The work of doctors is more and more frequently becoming the subject of patient objections and complaints. However, not all claims made by patients are medically justified. Despite this, they become the subject of civil or criminal proceedings, which affects the legal position of doctors. In the publication, the author analyses the occurrence of medically unfounded allegations against a doctor from the perspective of the system of personal rights protection in terms of its effectiveness. The subject matter focuses on the situation of a false allegation of medical malpractice in an action or notice of possible criminal offence, which then leads to civil or criminal proceedings. In addition, the analysis covers situations of making an analogous allegation in the press and on the Internet.  

The topic of defamation of doctors in the presented approach has not been generally discussed in the Polish legal literature, and the book is a comprehensive discussion of it. Great emphasis in the first part of the work is placed on presenting the broader legal and social context of unjustified accusations of medical errors against doctors and claims made by patients in this connection. Therefore, in addition to statistical data, the followwing issues are included: the development of the patient-doctor relationship, compensation culture and defensive medicine etc. Noteworthy are the results of a survey conducted among doctors to present the position of the medical community towards patients' claims related to so-called medical malpractice cases, as well as a comparative legal perspective on the problem of the growing number of medical malpractice cases. With this background, the issue of defamation in the context of the above-mentioned situation is analysed. 

„Legal monographs are most valuable when the author understands how the legal institutions analysed function in socio-economic reality. A skilful presentation of the socio-economic background of a given issue also allows the reader to better understand the significance of the publication and the implications of the reflections contained therein. It is therefore very good that the author has made the social context of medical malpractice cases and the evolution of the patient-doctor relationship the background for the detailed considerations characteristic of legal monographs.” 

The book is intended for lawyers and doctors, as well as anyone interested in the subject.