Do not Forget the Art of Phototherapy and Photodiagnostic Test Procedures! Increase of Malpractice Claims at the Expert Committee for Medical Malpractice of the North Rhine Medical Association due to Incorrect Applications of Phototherapy and Photodiagnostic Test Procedures

UV-phototherapy is still part of various guideline recommendations despite the development of highly effective biologicals. The performance of the various forms of phototherapy requires profound training in order to avoid harm to patients. This is reflected in an increasing number of malpractice claims, for example at the Expert Committee for Medical Malpratice of the North Rhine Medical Association. In the following, typical errors in UV-phototherapy and photodiagnostics are shown on the basis of four examples. In summary, all of the cases described involved treatment errors that could have been avoided with sound training and knowledge of the relevant literature. This manuscript should also be understood as an appeal to the instructors to pass on the art of phototherapy and photodiagnostics to the trainees entrusted to them.