Legal Service in the Protection of Ophthalmologists from the Risk of Medical Lawsuits

Abstract

Optometrists face high legal risks due to invasive procedures directly related to vision function, while understanding medical law is still relatively limited. This condition raises the need for preventive and applicative legal service. This study aims to analyze the implementation of legal service in providing legal protection to ophthalmologists from the risk of medical lawsuits and assess the effectiveness of legal service in increasing the understanding and legal awareness of ophthalmologists. The research method uses a mixed approach (mixed methods) with an evaluative descriptive design through a one group pretest–posttest model. The research location will be carried out in hospitals and eye clinics in Makassar City in 2025 with the subject of ophthalmologists, hospital management, and legal teams. Data was collected through observation, interviews, pre- test and post-test questionnaires, and documentation studies, then analyzed descriptively, qualitatively, and quantitatively. The results of the study show that legal service is carried out in a structured manner through medical legal education and applicative assistance supported by the active role of hospitals and legal teams. The effectiveness of legal service can be seen from a significant increase in ophthalmologists' legal understanding and the ability to apply the principle of legal prudence in clinical practice. This study concludes that legal service is effective as an instrument of preventive legal protection for ophthalmologists. This study suggests strengthening ongoing legal service programs and recommends the integration of medical legal education in hospital management systems and ophthalmologist professional development.