Malpractice is cited one reason:
Meanwhile, getting sued by a patient is a major concern. Of course, doctors who make fatal mistakes and who are unqualified should be held responsible. But there’s evidence that the bulk of lawsuits brought are frivolous. Of all malpractice lawsuits brought to jury trial in 2004, the defendant won 91% of the time. Only 6% of all lawsuits go to trial; those that aren’t thrown out are settled.
Related posts:
- Poll: Should a doctor blog his medical malpractice trial?
- A wrongful birth nets $23.5 million
- Are physician-patients held to a higher standard?
- Losing a $14M malpractice verdict
- Be careful what you promise
- There are no winners in malpractice cases
- Medical Justice vs RateMDs
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{ 3 comments }
Could you please, for once and for all, finally comprehend the difference between a frivolouscase and a case where the plaintiff does not win a verdict? I see the two confllated here all the time.
Plaintiffs who do not prevail may have ample rational basis for bringing the claim to be tried.
Doctors are among the most privileged of defendants. Let’s say a group practice makes $5 million a year. If they have 4 lawsuits ongoing, they are all upset.
Let’s say a welding business makes $5 million a year. It will have 400 lawsuits ongoing every day, forever. Each is as weak and frivolous as those against the doctors. The leaders of this welding business get as preoccupied as the doctors, when they should be preoccupied by welding.
Walmart has 10,000 lawsuits Everyday. What satellite based inventory system manages that quantity.
The public has valued both businesses the same, by their income. So, torts deters business formation, and interferes with development in all productive sectors, far worse in most businesses than in medicine.
And Korean drycleaners get hit with $52 million dollar lawsuits.
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