new Criminal Code and medical practice return to the center of the debate in the Dominican Republic. Orthopedic surgeon and traumatologist Lorenzo Brea expressed concern about the implications the new legislation could have on the practice of medicine, warning that the penal framework introduces more judicial pressure on health professionals.
new Criminal Code and pressure on doctors
Brea argued that the new Criminal Code opens up a more sensitive scenario for those who practice medicine, especially due to the fear of being criminally prosecuted in the face of clinical complications, errors in judgment, or adverse outcomes. This type of concern coincides with the position expressed in recent days by the Dominican Medical College, which has warned about a possible increase in so-called defensive medicine.
Defensive medicine occurs when a doctor orders more tests, refers more patients, or avoids risky procedures not strictly based on clinical criteria, but to reduce the possibility of a lawsuit or complaint. In the context of the new Criminal Code, this behavior could translate into higher costs, delays in care, and a less agile practice.
new Criminal Code: the medical-legal debate
The debate is not new, but it gained momentum following the approval of the penal text, which has caused concern among healthcare guilds. According to the public discussion line promoted by doctors and legal experts, the critical point is the potential criminalization of behaviors associated with negligence, recklessness, or lack of skill, concepts that in clinical practice are not always easy to delimit.
“The constant threat of legal proceedings will foster defensive medicine,” has been one of the repeated warnings by spokespersons of the medical sector when referring to the new Criminal Code.
Within this framework, Lorenzo Brea joins a concern already circulating among specialists in various areas: how to prevent a rule designed to sanction bad practices from ending up generating fear in professionals who work in high-pressure environments, such as emergencies, surgery, and traumatology.
Lorenzo Brea and the impact on patient care
The potential impact would not only affect the doctor. If defensive practice increases, the patient could face more tests, more referrals, and more waiting times, without this always translating into better care. Therefore, the effect of the new Criminal Code on clinical practice will be one of the most monitored topics in the health sector during the coming months.
- Lorenzo Brea warned about increased criminal pressure.
- The new Criminal Code is a cause for concern due to its impact on medical practice.
- The sector fears an increase in defensive medicine.
new Criminal Code under observation by the health sector
The discussion will remain open as the new Criminal Code is analyzed by doctors, lawyers, and health entities. In a system where the relationship between clinical risk and legal liability is delicate, any regulatory change can modify the way each case is decided, treated, and documented.
In this scenario, Lorenzo Brea insisted that the new Criminal Code must be evaluated with caution to prevent the practice of medicine in the Dominican Republic from being marked by the fear of judicialization.
