Awareness of Medico-Legal Responsibilities Among Interns: A Cross-Sectional Study at RIMS, Raichur.

Abstract

Background: The transition from medical student to practicing doctor involves assuming significant medico-legal responsibilities. With the rising number of litigations against healthcare professionals, adequate knowledge of medical ethics and law is crucial. This study aims to assess the awareness of medico-legal responsibilities among medical interns. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 medical interns at the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Raichur. Data regarding their knowledge on consent, medical record maintenance, the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), and handling of medico-legal cases (MLC) was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed. Results: Out of 110 interns, 96.4% correctly identified written informed consent as the best type of consent in MLCs. However, significant gaps were observed in practical applications, with only 30.9% confident in issuing injury certificates and 33.6% confident in issuing medical cause of death certificates. Awareness of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) was limited (29.1%), and confidence in attending court to give testimony was notably poor. Conclusion: While baseline theoretical knowledge is present, there are significant gaps in practical application and legal awareness, highlighting the need for targeted medico-legal orientation programs before and during the internship period.