Malpractice: Fight or settle?

This physician was pressured to settle, to his regret:

I spoke to some of my senior colleagues and they all advised me to settle. I relented, and what followed was a nightmare of the worst kind.

My insurance carrier increased my premium from $4,000 to $30,000, terminated my liability coverage, and then cornered me to buy a tail for $30,000 or retire. With retirement as no option, I found inflated liability coverage from the secondary market for $30,000 each year since the settlement.

I found that I became unemployable. No one returned my calls after job applications. My friends and colleagues avoided me, knowing that I would ask them about employment situations. The hospital where I was trained suggested I try elsewhere for a nonclinical position. In the meantime, I had to write to the state regulatory body to keep my license and avoid disciplinary action, including losing my license to practice.