Neurosurgeons are most likely to face malpractice suits, as 19 percent face a claim each year, followed by thoracic-cardiovascular surgeons (18.9 percent) and general surgeons (15.3 percent), according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study authors examined malpractice claims for 40,916 physicians from 1991-2005. According to the study, 5.2 percent of family physicians, 3.1 percent of pediatricians and 2.6 percent of psychiatrists face malpractice claims each year.
Still, of the 7 percent of physicians that are sued each year, only 20 percent of those claims result in payment to the patient. Gynecologists, separate from obstetricians, had the highest payment rate when sued, even though they were 12th most likely to face a claim.
The study found other variants between the likelihood of getting sued and the average payment size. For instance, physicians in obstetrics and general surgery — fields regarded as high-risk — were substantially more likely to face a claim than pediatricians and pathologists, yet average payments among pediatricians and pathologists were considerably greater.
Read the New England Journal of Medicine study on physicians and malpractice.
Related Articles on Physicians and Malpractice:
JAMA: Patient Safety Risks Also Exist in Physicians’ Offices
Poll: Fear of Lawsuits Drives Number of Tests Ordered for 44% of Emergency Physicians
Number of Medical Malpractice Suits Plummet Following Passage of Tort Reform
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
