The Current Practices Related to Medico-Legal Issues in Clinical Settings in Bangladesh.

Background: Effective management of medico-legal issues is critical for maintaining patient trust, ensuring legal compliance, and safeguarding the professional integrity of healthcare practitioners. Despite the significance of medico-legal training, gaps persist in specialized knowledge and practical experience among medical professionals, particularly in developing nations like Bangladesh.
Aim: This study aims to evaluate the practices of registered medical practitioners concerning medico-legal issues, with a focus on demographic influences, training gaps, and practical challenges.
Methods: A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Bangladesh Medical University (BSMMU) over 18 months. A stratified random sample of 113 clinical practitioners, resident doctors, and medical officers was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Key variables included demographic data, medico-legal training, practical experience, and knowledge of specific legal protocols. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26.
Results: Participants had an average age of 31.34 years (SD = 8.0), with the 30–34 age group representing the majority (61.9%). Gender distribution was nearly balanced (53.1% male, 46.9% female). Only 15.9% had formal training in medico-legal aspects, with death report preparation (7.1%) and medico-legal case handling (5.3%) being the most common areas of training. More than half (55%) had experience with medico-legal cases, primarily road traffic accidents (46.9%) and poisoning (44.2%). Documentation errors (10.7%) and consentrelated disputes (12.3%) were identified as prevalent challenges. Attitudes revealed strong support for transparency and medico-legal education, with 85.8% agreeing that patients should always be informed of wrongdoing and 79% advocating for medico-legal training in medical curricula. The findings highlight the critical significance of medico-legal education in reducing legal risks, improving documentation and reporting accuracy, and strengthening ethical practices in patient care.
Conclusion: The study highlights critical deficiencies in medico-legal training, particularly in specialized areas, despite a foundational understanding of core concepts among practitioners. Integrating targeted medico-legal education into medical curricula and enhancing training opportunities can address these gaps, improve professional competency, and strengthen the medico-legal framework in healthcare systems.