Abstract:
Drawing on the experiences of victims of medical negligence in Ghana’s Greater Accra
and Central Regions, this study sought to explore the human rights implications of medical
negligence, exploring victims’ self-narrated experiences of medical negligence. An
interpretive research paradigm and a qualitative research approach were employed in the
study. The study adopted case study design, and snowballing sampling technique to sample
ten participants from both regions. One-on-one interview technique was employed to
collect primary data. Data collected were analyzed thematically. The study found that
participants have limited knowledge of their rights as enshrined in the Ghana Patients’
Charter. Surgical negligence, prescription and medication administration errors, and
misdiagnosis errors were found to be common medical negligence episodes. The
willingness or otherwise to pursue legal action against healthcare practitioners was
influenced by fear of victimization, time and energy required, and sociocultural value of
non-litigation. The study recommends that there is the need for the Commission on Human
Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Commission for Civic Education
(NCCE) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) to embark on intensive and sustainable public
education and sensitization on the Patient Charter. It further recommended that human
rights courses be integrated into health practitioners training curriculum and be made
compulsory for all individuals willing to take up careers in healthcare services.
Description:
A thesis in the Centre for Conflict, Human Rights and Peace Studies,
Faculty of Social Sciences Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Human Rights, Conflict and Peace Studies)
in the University of Education, Winneba.
OCTOBER, 2023