Healthcare: Criminal Shield, Fism urges continuation of institutional discussions

President Gesualdo on professional liability: "Serious technical dialogue to protect patients and professionals"

The Federation of Italian Medical-Scientific Societies (Fism) acknowledges the Council of Ministers' decision to postpone approval of the bill on "provisions relating to the professional liability of healthcare professionals," which contains criminal protection measures for healthcare professionals. While respecting the complexities of the legislative process, Fism, which represents over 200 scientific societies active throughout the country, emphasizes in a statement the importance of a rapid, balanced technical-institutional process aimed at fostering shared and sustainable solutions.

"A system that guarantees patient protection and professional peace of mind is possible and desirable," states Fism President Loreto Gesualdo, "but a serious technical dialogue is needed, which we have initiated and supported both with hearings at institutional meetings and with concrete proposals, including on issues of citizen protection and active participation." Any proposed regulatory measure, Fism emphasizes, must first and foremost preserve citizens' right to obtain civil justice in the event of damages resulting from adverse events, without postponing or making compensation dependent on the timeframe of criminal proceedings. At the same time, he adds, it is necessary to "provide healthcare professionals with a clear, proportionate, and respectful regulatory framework for real-world operating conditions, to limit the use of defensive medicine and safeguard the quality of care."

Expressing appreciation for the work done by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, the Commission chaired by Councilor Adelchi D'Ippolito, Deputy Minister Francesco Paolo Sisto, and Undersecretary Marcello Gemmato, Fism assures that "upon the resumption of parliamentary activity, it will continue to contribute" to the technical discussions and institutional hearings organized on these issues, contributing analyses and suggestions aimed at improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the provisions on professional liability in the interests of citizens, professionals, and the National Health Service.