Legal Accountability in Managing Patient Safety Systems within Public Health Facilities

Abstract

This study analyzes the implementation of legal accountability in patient safety management within public health facilities in Semarang City, Central Java. Using a qualitative socio-legal approach, data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 12 informants—including service managers, healthcare workers, patient safety officers, and quality supervisors—and from regulatory and institutional document analysis. Thematic analysis shows that although patient safety standards have been adopted in accordance with national regulations, legal accountability remains constrained by limited human resources, inconsistent regulatory comprehension, weak incident-reporting culture, and fragmented oversight mechanisms. The study concludes that strengthening legal accountability requires aligning regulations with institutional capacity, building a stronger safety culture, and optimizing reporting systems to enhance sustainable patient safety. These findings contribute theoretically to health law studies and provide practical guidance for improving governance in regional public health facilities.