[Criteria for errors in prostate-specific antigen diagnostics].

Background: The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) determination in the diagnosis of prostate cancer has proved to be generally beneficial; however, as a result expert commissions, arbitration committees and the courts have had to deal with an increased number of suspected treatment errors. As a follow-up to the previous report on the decisions made by expert commissions, this paper deals with recent developments and their assessment.

Methods: The procedures followed for assessment have been extensively described in the previous paper.

[Urologic errors in surgical procedures].

Background: In the examinations of the appraisal commission of Northern Rhine the third most frequent urologic errors are ascertained after surgical procedures. In order to prevent them, it is adequate to evaluate their causes.

Material And Methods: Urologic claims were examined that came before the appraisal commission for treatment errors of the Northern Rhine Physicians' Authority between 1975 and 2005.

[Consistency and change of medical errors in urology].

Background: Whether and how far the ascertainment of medical errors is influenced by advances in medicine is a matter of question.

Material And Methods: The cases of the Expert Committee for Medical Malpractice Claims of the Medical Association of North Rhine were reviewed from 1975 to 2005. The results of the first 23 years were compared with the last 7 ones.

[Treatment errors involving diagnosis of and therapy for prostate carcinoma].

Purpose: In patients with prostate carcinoma diagnosis and therapy often present problems that are difficult to solve. Perfect results can only be reached by the highest level of professional expertise and required care. In cases of unwanted results and incidences it is asked whether claims of patients against their doctors are justified or not.

[Treatment errors involving diagnosis using prostate specific antigen. Decisions of the commission of experts for medical mistakes of treatment of the state medical board of North Rhine].

Advances in prostate specific antigen (PSA) diagnosis are accompanied by deficits in realization. The justification of claims by affected patients against their doctors are reviewed by commissions of experts and mediation by medical councils out of court, impartial and free of charge. The objectivity of the review is ensured by the independence of the commission and its members as well as the determination of facts and their assessment.