Review of the obligation to pay medical expenses in the case of restrictions on liability for medical litigation: Focusing on the court ruling

Abstract

In the case of medical malpractice litigations, even if the hospital's negligence is admitted, in most cases restriction on liability is admitted. Since the medical expenses are in return for medical practice, the hospital can claim it when the medical practice is performed according to the contents delegated. In the event of a medical malpractice, if the hospital is not negligent, or if it is completely responsible, it is clear whether the mandate has been fulfilled. But in case of restriction on liability, it is not clear whether or not a medical fee can be claimed. In many cases, courts judge that there is no obligation to pay the total medical expenses regardless of the liability limit rate, while in most cases, medical expenses are calculated by reflecting the liability limit rate. If the obligation to pay medical expenses is judged differently depending on whether it is a claim for damages or a medical expense lawsuit, an unreasonable situation may occur in which the obligation to pay medical expenses is judged differently depending on the timing of payment of medical expenses. If the patient's negligence contributes, the ratio of negligence should be reflected in the medical expenses according to the law of comparative negligence. If the risk of the disease itself is high or the patient's constitutional predisposition limits liability, the proportion of the factor's contribution in terms of fair and reasonable sharing of damages should be reflected in the claim.