Based on finding from a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the more a doctor is sued, the more they will be sued again.
Researchers of the study used the National Practitioners Data Bank and analyzed over a decade of paid medical malpractice claims. The government database consisted of 66,426 claims against 54,099 doctors.
Below are some notable findings that were discovered from this study:
- Pediatricians were 30% less likely to have a paid medical malpractice claim than most other doctors.
- Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons were twice as likely to have a paid medical malpractice claim over internists.
- Male doctors had a 38% higher recurrence rate of claims over female doctors.
- Younger doctors under the age of 35 were one third more likely to have a recurrence over older doctors.
An estimated 94% of all doctors have never had a claim. However, there are those few “bad apples” with continuous claims that can make other doctors look bad.
David M. Studdert, a professor of law and medicine at Stanford University, was the lead author of the study, stating that: “Doctors who accumulate multiple claims are a problem, and a threat to the health care system. Identifying these high risk doctors is a key first step toward doing something about the problem.”
If you or a loved one has experienced a situation where you were greatly affected due to the negligence of a doctor or other healthcare professional, contact an experienced Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys at Gilreath & Associates for a free consultation.
Also, learn valuable tips on how to avoid becoming the next medical malpractice victim.
