Addis Ababa Reports Surge in Medical Malpractice Complaints; 31 Health Workers Penalized

The Addis Ababa Food and Medicine Authority has reported an increase in patient complaints regarding medical malpractice, including severe cases resulting in physical disability and death. Metkel Gebremedhin, Director of Legal, Health Professionals, and Ethics Monitoring, disclosed that 42 formal complaints were filed recently. The reported incidents cover neonatal care, maternal health, dentistry, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and childbirth procedures. Following thorough investigations, 31 healthcare professionals were found liable, including 9 doctors, 14 nurses, 3 midwives, 3 health officers, 1 anesthetist, and 1 emergency surgical professional. Consequently, 30 of these professionals received practice license suspensions ranging from one month to 14 months, while one professional was issued a written warning. The authority cited potential causes such as lack of attention, knowledge and skill gaps, and shortages of medical supplies, noting that higher public awareness has contributed to the rise in reported complaints.