The Dutch Society of Medical Dissidents (NeVeMeDis) protects the interests of patients who have suffered a medical error during treatment, and where the medical, legal and financial consequences have not been, or are not being, solved properly by the medical sector in the Netherlands.

Introduction

A recent study (1999) in the USA shows that there are large numbers of victims of serious medical errors. Based on the American study, there would be approximately 3000 deaths in the Netherlands every year as a result of medical errors, approximately 1000 patients would incur permanent injuries and several tens of thousands of patients would incur temporary injuries (lasting less than 6 months). W.G. Verkruisen (lawyer) also believes that there are several tens of thousands of serious medical errors every year in the Netherlands (Publication in Medische Aansprakelijkheid, 9 May 1997 instalment 19). According to the Medical Disciplinary Tribunals, however, there are only approximately 100 serious medical errors every year in the Netherlands. The Dutch Public Health Inspectorate is now also convinced that the number of victims of medical errors in the Netherlands is in the region of 30,000 every year.

Due to the fact that individual patients are at a serious disadvantage with respect to the medical sector, complaints are only filed in a small number of cases. These patients, who are already victims of medical errors, are then often treated in a medically irresponsible and, in many aspects, an undemocratic way in the Netherlands. The comparison with political dissidents holds true in many respects. This is why we have chosen "Dutch Society of Medical Dissidents" as the name of our organisation.

The medical sector does not handle patients who suffer a medical error during treatment much better, but much worse. These patients suffer  financial and particularly medical problems. The medical sector uses the - conflict model - in their dealings with these patients, based on a superior medical knowledge, extensive financial means, manpower, legal possibilities and the medical oath of secrecy. In addition, the medical sector is supported through a Medical Disciplinary Tribunal, which - as third line of defence for medical doctors - largely serves the interests of the medical sector. During all publicity and treatment of medical errors, one important aspect is usually ignored. Some of the medical victims in the Netherlands no longer receive adequate medical treatment. After all, the correct medical treatment to put right a medical error (as far as is possible) would be an implicit acknowledgement that a medical error had been made. The Royal Dutch Society of Medicine (KNMG) advises its doctors/members not to acknowledge serious medical errors. The insurance company should first be contacted and one of the terms of their policies is: - do not acknowledge any medical error otherwise you will no longer be insured as a doctor -, and the doctor will have to pay the damages himself. This attitude of the KNMG and the insurance companies leads to - medical sham - when medical errors occur, of which the most important and most common is ‘the cause of the complication is not a medical error but you are mentally ill, its all in your mind’.

Due to this attitude of the KNMG and the insurance companies, the victims of medical errors in the Netherlands are often not given the correct medical treatment. The Dutch Society of Medical Dissidents, NeVeMeDis, therefore has the motto:

NeVeMeDis therefore wants all possible steps to be taken to solve any medical consequences after a medical error has occurred. NeVeMeDis wants to achieve that by setting up an Organisation to give Independent Medical Second Opinions (OOMSO), so that both patients and medical practitioners can get an independent second opinion, also after a medical error. OOMSO would then also be brought in during an independent medical tribunal, so that the Medical Disciplinary Tribunals in their current undemocratic form can be disbanded.