Medical and Pharmaceutical Affairs

The number of newly filed civil cases related to medical malpractice (suits for damages) was 805 in 2013 and 877 in 2014, according to statistics on first instances provided by the Supreme Court. And, there were numerous settlement and negotiation cases that did not progress to litigation. Meanwhile, all medical institutions are under pressure to deal with patient-related issues that arise during everyday medical practice, and are required to implement appropriate measures for prevention and resolution.

Over a long period, we have handled medical suits, settlements, and negotiation cases in collaboration with medical associations. Using the experience and know-how we have gained through the aforementioned suits and cases, we provide relevant advice concerning daily operation of medical institutions, social welfare facilities, and difficulties with patients and users.

Any organization engaging in hospital management or social welfare facility operation needs effective and appropriate legal support in respect of various aspects of different contractual transactions, creation of regulations, personnel and labor affairs, facility management, etc. We provide specialized knowledge drawn from their unique expertise in this area.

We also advise boards of medical corporations and social welfare corporations and play advisory roles on ethics committees and clinical trial review committees in our capacities as governors, councilors, auditors, or committee members.

Medicinal products play important roles in the preservation of human life and health. But, drugs are foreign substances introduced into the human body, which carries an ever-present risk of occurrence of adverse effects. There exist issues concerning the degree of risk of adverse effects that should be permissible in light of the efficacy of particular medicinal products. Even within the permissible scope of risk, there are questions about the measures pharmaceutical companies should be required to take (e.g., instructions, warnings).

We have represented pharmaceutical companies in cases involving thalidomide, chloroquine, SMON, quadriceps contracture, AIDS, and hepatitis C, etc., and we have been committed to the resolution of such cases.