Saturday, December 20, 2025
SUARAJATIM - When medical treatment does not lead to the expected outcome, emotions often take over before facts are understood. Families may say, “The medication didn’t work,” “The medical staff wasn’t careful enough,” or even accuse a hospital of malpractice. In reality, not every unfavorable medical outcome is the result of professional error.
According to Dr. Agung Malinda Wijaya, MD, SpOT, AIFO-K, an orthopedic specialist at RS Marinir Cilandak Hospital in South Jakarta, public understanding of medical risk remains limited. This lack of understanding often leads to confusion between Adverse Events—known in medical practice as Kejadian Tidak Diinginkan (KTD)—and actual medical malpractice.
“An adverse event can occur even when medical care follows established standards,” Dr. Agung explained.
In clinical medicine, an adverse event refers to a harmful or unintended outcome experienced by a patient during medical treatment. Importantly, such events are not always caused by mistakes made by healthcare professionals. Many arise from factors inherent to the patient’s condition or the complexity of the human body itself.
Dr. Agung cited common examples, including allergic reactions to properly prescribed medications, post-operative infections despite strict sterile procedures, and sudden deterioration of a patient’s condition due to underlying illnesses or comorbidities. These situations illustrate that medicine cannot eliminate risk entirely.
Every patient responds differently to treatment. Immune systems vary, diseases can progress unpredictably, and all medical procedures carry inherent risks. This is why no treatment outcome can ever be guaranteed with absolute certainty.
Medical malpractice, however, is fundamentally different. Malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional commits a clear professional error that causes harm to a patient. This includes deviation from accepted medical standards, negligence, or performing procedures without appropriate competence.
“Malpractice always involves a demonstrable mistake,” Dr. Agung said.
Examples include administering medication far beyond safe dosage limits, ignoring emergency conditions, performing procedures without proper qualifications, or causing severe harm by failing to follow clinical protocols. In malpractice cases, there must be a clear causal link between the healthcare provider’s action and the patient’s injury.
The key distinction lies in accountability. Adverse events may occur even when doctors act appropriately and follow medical guidelines. They are considered part of medical risk. Nevertheless, every adverse event must still be reported, reviewed, and evaluated to improve patient safety. Malpractice, on the other hand, is not a risk—it is negligence—and requires ethical and legal investigation.
Education is essential for patients and their families. When treatment outcomes fall short of expectations, open communication with healthcare providers should be the first step. Patients have the right to understand potential risks, possible complications, and the medical team’s plan for evaluation or recovery.
Healthcare professionals also carry a responsibility to communicate clearly from the outset. Risks and complications must be explained in language patients can understand. Thorough medical documentation serves not only as a professional obligation but also as protection for both patients and providers.
“If an adverse event occurs, it must be reported, analyzed, and explained. Transparency builds public trust,” Dr. Agung emphasized.
He added that the public does not study medicine, making it the responsibility of healthcare professionals to bridge that knowledge gap. Doctors are not infallible figures, but professionals practicing medicine with science, ethics, and accountability. Patients, meanwhile, are not passive subjects, but individuals with the right to be informed and heard throughout their care journey.
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| Dr. Agung Malinda Wijaya explains the distinction between adverse events and medical malpractice in clinical care. |
“An adverse event can occur even when medical care follows established standards,” Dr. Agung explained.
In clinical medicine, an adverse event refers to a harmful or unintended outcome experienced by a patient during medical treatment. Importantly, such events are not always caused by mistakes made by healthcare professionals. Many arise from factors inherent to the patient’s condition or the complexity of the human body itself.
Dr. Agung cited common examples, including allergic reactions to properly prescribed medications, post-operative infections despite strict sterile procedures, and sudden deterioration of a patient’s condition due to underlying illnesses or comorbidities. These situations illustrate that medicine cannot eliminate risk entirely.
Every patient responds differently to treatment. Immune systems vary, diseases can progress unpredictably, and all medical procedures carry inherent risks. This is why no treatment outcome can ever be guaranteed with absolute certainty.
Medical malpractice, however, is fundamentally different. Malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional commits a clear professional error that causes harm to a patient. This includes deviation from accepted medical standards, negligence, or performing procedures without appropriate competence.
“Malpractice always involves a demonstrable mistake,” Dr. Agung said.
Examples include administering medication far beyond safe dosage limits, ignoring emergency conditions, performing procedures without proper qualifications, or causing severe harm by failing to follow clinical protocols. In malpractice cases, there must be a clear causal link between the healthcare provider’s action and the patient’s injury.
The key distinction lies in accountability. Adverse events may occur even when doctors act appropriately and follow medical guidelines. They are considered part of medical risk. Nevertheless, every adverse event must still be reported, reviewed, and evaluated to improve patient safety. Malpractice, on the other hand, is not a risk—it is negligence—and requires ethical and legal investigation.
Education is essential for patients and their families. When treatment outcomes fall short of expectations, open communication with healthcare providers should be the first step. Patients have the right to understand potential risks, possible complications, and the medical team’s plan for evaluation or recovery.
Healthcare professionals also carry a responsibility to communicate clearly from the outset. Risks and complications must be explained in language patients can understand. Thorough medical documentation serves not only as a professional obligation but also as protection for both patients and providers.
“If an adverse event occurs, it must be reported, analyzed, and explained. Transparency builds public trust,” Dr. Agung emphasized.
He added that the public does not study medicine, making it the responsibility of healthcare professionals to bridge that knowledge gap. Doctors are not infallible figures, but professionals practicing medicine with science, ethics, and accountability. Patients, meanwhile, are not passive subjects, but individuals with the right to be informed and heard throughout their care journey.