OT:Do Pediatricians Face A Malpractice Crisis?

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070702084203.htm

Do Pediatricians Face A Malpractice Crisis?

Science Daily — Do pediatricians face a malpractice crisis? In the

first systematic multi-year analysis of malpractice claims solely

against pediatricians, researchers from the Indiana University School

of Medicine report in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics that

the answer is neither yes nor no.

" We studied pediatricians and malpractice because while the medical

malpractice issue is extremely stressful and gets a lot of press, and

we all have heard numerous horror stories and anecdotes, there is

little actual data reported, especially for pediatricians. So we took

a retrospective, comprehensive look at malpractice claims against

pediatricians. Surprisingly, we found that from 1985-2005 society

hasn't become more litigious, at least not vis à vis pediatricians, "

said E. Carroll, assistant professor of pediatrics at the IU

School of Medicine and a Regenstrief Institute, Inc. affiliated

scientist.

Dr. Carroll looked at the two decades of malpractice claims data and

found that 68% of malpractice cases against pediatricians were

withdrawn or dismissed. Only 5% of malpractice suits against

pediatricians went to trial, and of these 4 out of 5 were found in

favor of the pediatrician.

During the 20-year period, 214,226 closed malpractice claims were

reported to a database maintained by the Physician Insurer

Association of America, a trade association of medical malpractice

insurance companies. Together, these companies insure approximately

60% of all private practicing physicians and surgeons in the United

States.

" While I don't want to minimize the horror of being sued, the numbers

don't bear this [malpractice] out as a problem for pediatricians, "

said Dr. Carroll.

Although children are responsible for a large percentage of

healthcare consumption, he found that pediatricians accounted for

only 2.97% of all malpractice claims.

Pediatrics ranked 7th in terms of 28 specialties in settlements or

awards made directly to plaintiffs as a result of claim-resolution

process. Not surprisingly, indemnity payment trended upward between

1985 and 2005. In 1985 the median (50th percentile) payment by

pediatricians for a resolved claim was $ 65,000. By 2005 the median

payment had risen to $270,000. Both figures are in 2005 dollars.

Slightly more than a quarter of all claims against pediatricians were

settled for the plaintiff before going to trial, often because

settlement costs less than the median cost of going to trial --

$40,000. Settlement is not an admission of guilt.

" Malpractice is a serious issue. Some will read the results of this

analysis and draw comfort; others will view the same data with alarm

and surprise. Regardless of how one interprets these findings, they

are important in truly informing the debate with generalizable

facts, " the study concluded.

Dr. Carroll and co-author Buddenbaum, MHA are with

Children's Health Services Research in the IU School of Medicine's

Department of Pediatrics.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by

Indiana University.