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Litigation in thyroid surgery: a pan-specialty review of National Health Service (UK) data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2023

James Arwyn-Jones Open the ORCID record for James Arwyn-Jones [Opens in a new window] ,
Talisa Ross ,
Annakan Navaratnam Open the ORCID record for Annakan Navaratnam [Opens in a new window] ,
Manish George ,
John T Machin ,
Tim W R Briggs  and
Neil Tolley
James Arwyn-Jones*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
Talisa Ross
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK University College London, London, UK
Annakan Navaratnam
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
Manish George
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
John T Machin
Affiliation:
Orthopaedics, King's College Hospital, London, UK Getting It Right First Time Programme, NHS England, London, UK
Tim W R Briggs
Affiliation:
Getting It Right First Time Programme, NHS England, London, UK Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, UK
Neil Tolley
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: James Arwyn-Jones; Email: james.jones12@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

Thyroid surgery carries risks that significantly impact patients. This paper describes the landscape of thyroid surgery related litigation claims in the National Health Service from April 2015 to April 2020, to establish learning points in order to improve patient care and minimise litigation risk.

Methods

Data were requested from National Health Service Resolution and Hospital Episode Statistics. Claims were classified into operative and non-operative causes. Subspecialty information, incident details and claim costings were analysed.

Results

Sixty claims were identified. Thirty-eight claims (63.3 per cent) were closed, with an average total claim cost of £68 816 and average damages paid of £36 349. Claims related to diagnostic issues were most common (n = 19); of claims associated with operative causes (n = 30), those relating to nerve injury were most common (n = 8), with issues of nerve monitoring and consent being cited.

Conclusion

Utilisation of well-established protocols will likely reduce litigation in thyroid surgery, as we move towards a landscape in which the patient journey is thoroughly scrutinised for targeted improvements.

Keywords

Thyroid glandthyroidectomyinformed consent

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 11 , November 2023 , pp. 1200 - 1206
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

James Arwyn-Jones takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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