Medicolegal And Clinical Governance Challenges in Tele-Orthopedics: A Systematic Review Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic
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Abstract
The integration of technology in healthcare holds significant promise for lowering the expenses of medical services by enabling informed decisions that ensure timely patient treatment. The advancement of telemedicine brings forth various clinical and legal considerations. Nevertheless, only a limited number of studies have addressed telemedicine within the field of orthopedics. This review examines the ethical and legal challenges associated with tele-orthopedics. The principal legal and clinical governance aspects of tele-orthopedics. The majority of the studies emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the acceleration the pandemic provided to the adoption of telemedicine in orthopedic care. The key topics covered in the existing literature—mostly originating from Western regions—include care quality, patient satisfaction, and safety. The influence of telemedicine in orthopedics remains incompletely assessed, especially regarding potential legal implications. Most research employed qualitative methodologies with limited robustness. Issues such as regulatory approvals, safeguarding patient privacy, and professional accountability are expected to become prominent in the near future.
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References
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