Selecting an attorney for legal cases is a very important decision. Please enter your information below to receive a Free Consultation from an attorney in your area:
Medical
Malpractice News
Second Annual Medical Malpractice Insurance Report Released
Olympia, Wash. — The second annual medical malpractice insurance survey was released today by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. The survey, or data call, analyzes trends in medical malpractice claims for a 10-year period beginning July 1, 1995 and ending June 30, 2005.
In last year’s data call, the top five medical malpractice insurers comprising over 90 percent of the regulated market for physicians and surgeons were asked to supply specific closed claim information to the Insurance Commissioner’s Office for a 10-year period. This year’s report includes the most recent year of data on compensation for injuries and the related expenses of defending physicians. Surplus lines carriers and self-insurers that provide malpractice coverage for physicians are not regulated by the Insurance Commissioner and did not participate in the data call.
The participating insurers closed 10,212 medical malpractice claims over the 10-year period. Among the key findings:
The number of paid medical malpractice claims increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent.
The average amount of compensation per claim increased at an annual rate of 3.2 percent.
Twenty-seven percent of the claims were closed with an indemnity (compensation) payment to a claimant.
3,178 claims were closed without any compensation payments or defense costs.
Less than two percent of the total paid claims resulted in compensation
Of the 10,212 closed claims, 45 claims – or less than one percent – were decided by a jury and resulted in a payment to a plaintiff.
Sixty-two percent of the claims were closed with defense costs, such as attorney or expert witness fees.
Sixty-seven percent of the claims that incurred defense costs resulted in no compensation payment.
The number of claims with defense costs increased at an annual rate of 3.5 percent.
Average defense costs increased at an annual rate of 7 percent.
“The results of this survey suggest that medical malpractice claim payments have stabilized over the last few years, which should be good news for physicians and surgeons – at least in the near term,” said Commissioner Kreidler.
“However, we still lack the authority to require specific information that could shine a light on the real trouble areas in the medical malpractice market,” he added. “Now is the time to develop clear and consistent requirements for reporting claim and settlement information. It’s time to move from policy decisions based on anecdotes to decisions based on data that can really solve problems. I intend to push for legislation again in 2006 that would give my office the authority we need to better assess the health of the medical malpractice market.”
The study limitations include:
Use of historical paid claim data cannot predict future trends in medical malpractice insurance rates.
Participating insurers represent a limited share of the medical malpractice insurance market. Current laws do not allow the Commissioner to obtain data from surplus lines insurers (which sell insurance to high risk providers or specialties) or self-insurers (such as health care facilities and medical cooperatives).
Claims information by type of specialty is unreliable due to differences in the way insurers collect data.
The complete malpractice survey results can be found at insurance.wa.gov/special/wic/MedMalDataCallOct2005.pdf.
Gastric-Bypass surgery is an intrusive & risky surgical operation
Gastric-bypass malpractice occurs when a medical professional causes harm or personal injury while performing the surgery or through a general or particular negligence. Some types of gastric bypass operations: Open Roux en Y (Rny), (Restrictive with some Malabsorption) Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y,Fobi Pouch (Restrictive with Malabsorption) , stomach staple, & more.
Newsroom
News about Medical Malpractice cases in Cleveland and nationwide:
Definition:
A form of discovery in which one party submits a series of written questions to the other party, and to which the latter is bound to answer under oath.
Palliative Care
Definition:
The total care of patients with progressive, incurable illness. In palliative care, the focus of care is on quality of life. Control of pain and other physical symptoms, and psychological, social and spiritual problems is considered most important.
Confidentiality
Definition:
The principle that prohibits physicians from disclosing confidential comments made to them by patients unless required to do so by law. The law may require physicians to violate patient confidentiality if the patient poses a serious threat to his or her own health and the well-being or that of others.
Legal Disclaimers All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service. The information provided on Cleveland Medical Malpractice Attorneys.com is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys
general information related to legal issues commonly encountered. Your access
to and use of this website is subject to additional Terms
and Conditions.
Local Professional? Generate new business today
Call 866-227-9356 or contact a sales rep
Did You Know?