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In the news: Nearly all physicians get sued at some point during their career

Medical Staff Leader Connection, August 19, 2010

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For every 100 physicians, there are 95 medical lawsuits, according to a new report from the American Medical Association (AMA). With nearly an average of one liability claim per physician, the report calls for medical liability reform for lower healthcare costs and to ensure physicians continue to provide patient care.

“…In any single year, being sued is a rare event. Only 5 percent of physicians had claims filed against them in that time frame. Over the length of a career, however, claims are much more common,” the report states.
Claim frequency varied with age, specialty, and gender. Nearly 61% of physicians age 55 and over have been sued. General surgeons and obstetricians/gynecologists were the most likely specialties to receive claims. In addition, men were twice as likely to be sued as women.

“Even though the vast majority of claims are dropped or decided in favor of physicians, the understandable fear of meritless lawsuits can influence what specialty of medicine physicians practice, where they practice and when they retire,” said AMA immediate past President J. James Rohack, MD.  “This litigious climate hurts patients’ access to physician care at a time when the nation is working to reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.”



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