Drug-related lawsuits that can be filed against doctors are often due to a failure to advise patients of known complications, which might have influenced the latter's choice. It may also be the failure of the doctor to prescribe the right medication, or he may be sued for prescribing the wrong one.
In the case of prescription drugs or drugs being marketed with specific indications, it is not unusual for doctors to develop what are called off-label uses, meaning for other reasons than the reasons for which the drug was originally designed. There is some risk associated with this, but that is not the reason why doctors are not reporting complications. In general, doctors are saying that they are not reporting them due to a lack of time. They wonder whether they should treat the patient or fill out a form. Furthermore, numerous doctors know little about the post-approval drug monitoring system. Under Quebec legislation, they are now required to report complications to the government. Even if this is a statutory requirement, it is still difficult.