Abstract
The increase in medical negligence litigation and costs during the past two decades has prompted health care providers, governments and the World Health Organization (WHO) to seek new approaches for the prevention of medical error and the protection of patient safety. The study and practice of clinical risk management has gradually been taken up by medicine, risk management, and even law in the world. Their participation has developed rapidly in recent years. This essay surveys contemporary research in clinical risk management, medical negligence prevention and relevant legal issues, examines their interrelationship, identifies the main categories of research topics and methodologies and explores the appropriate direction for further research.