A History of Medical Liability: From Ancient Times to Today

Medical liability is a term associated with medical procedures and acts that has been a topic of controversy and research since ancient times all over the world. In ancient times, it was usually explained based on theocratic conceptions and was directly related to the social position of the patient to whom the physician applied medicine, while the capacity of the physician implied specific qualities. The present review of ancient history and geography provides a detailed description of the issues concerning medical responsibility through the years in ancient Greece, the birthplace of Asclepius and Hippocrates, the fathers of medical science, and the medical oath of conscientious performance of physician duties. Furthermore, it discusses the issue of medical liability globally from ancient times till more recently. Finally, medical liability and the interaction of its various aspects in Greece in recent years is presented according to Greek legislation to provide a good review for the reader to acknowledge the changes in medical liability through the centuries.