A recent report outlines the results of a survey involving nearly 4,000 physicians from a variety of specialties, including primary care physicians, OB-GYN’s, and surgeons. The survey investigated the prevalence of medical malpractice lawsuits against these healthcare professionals, as well as the leading forms of negligence claimed in the suits brought against them.
The recent report was generated by Medscape, a part of WebMD Health Professional Network that provides current medical information and educational tools to those in the medical profession. The results of the survey were recently released on their website through a report entitled, “Medscape Malpractice Report 2015: Why Most Doctors Get Sued.” Nearly 4,000 doctors participated in the survey, with a sample size that included men, women, primary care physicians, and doctors with a plethora of specializations.
What are the Main Reasons Doctors Get Sued?
According to recent data published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Malpractice Risk According to Physician Specialty), surgeons and OB-GYN’s are the most frequently cited for medical malpractice among all physicians. The Medscape data reflected this trend, with 85% of OB-GYN’s, 83% of surgeons, and 79% of orthopedists reporting lawsuits brought against them. The number of medical malpractice lawsuits against primary care physicians was significantly lower, with only 46% of PCP respondents having been subject to legal action through malpractice litigation.
The frequency of lawsuits brought against OB-GYN’s and surgeons is not surprising, as these doctors handle some of the most sensitive and significant procedures, often with catastrophic consequences if they fail to provide the appropriate standard of care. For example, OB-GYN errors can include delivery errors that result in birth injuries such as Erb’s Palsy, failure to recognize or treat health threats to the mother such as epidural abscess and spinal cord compression, and failure to identify or treat birth defects such as craniosynostosis or plagiocephaly. Similarly, surgical errors often result in the most devastating long-term, if not life-threatening, repercussions.
In terms of the medical malpractice lawsuits reported by primary care physicians in the survey, respondents cited the majority of claims as “failure to diagnose,” which constituted 44% of all lawsuits. These were followed by: “patient suffered an abnormal injury (20%),” “failure to treat” (12%), and medication errors (6%). The results of these alleged errors included injuries, prolonged complications, and even wrongful death.
Considering all of the data collected, the question remains: what does all of this mean for the patient? Ultimately, suffering due to the negligence of a medical professional is far too common in our society. Fortunately, the law provides a vehicle through which to rectify these wrongs, allowing victims to pursue just compensation and to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable.
Although most of the respondents in the aforementioned survey had negative or indifferent sentiments with regard to medical malpractice attorneys, one outlier stated: “[The medical malpractice] lawyer…helps to make the quality of medicine in this country what it is today (the best). Without them, doctors would go unchecked.” At Fronzuto Law Group, we are committed to serving patients and their families who are victims of medical and pediatric malpractice, bolstering the view that in order to provide the best healthcare in the world, medical professionals in the United States must be held to the highest standards.
If you have questions about suing a doctor or another healthcare provider in New Jersey, contact us online or call 973-435-4551 for a free consultation. Our attorneys regularly represent clients in Bergen County, Morris County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Monmouth County, and throughout the state and we are here to assist you.
