Physician Risk Management – July 1, 2013
July 1, 2013
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Surprising facts on diagnostic errors: Change practices to stop avoidable suits
Diagnostic errors are the leading cause of successful medical malpractice claims, according to a recently published analysis of 350,706 paid claims occurring from 1986 to 2010 from the National Practitioner Data Bank.1 -
Unpleasant office staff? It’s one reason for suits — Many claims involve rudeness
When a patient called a pediatricians office to ask for a same-day appointment because her child was not well, she received a curt response from the receptionist. -
Does insurer refuse to pay for referral? It won’t protect MD from liability
Physicians have the responsibility to refer a patient or consult with a specialist when they know that highly skilled treatment might thereby be obtained, says Katherine A. Miller, RN, CPHRM, a risk/claims consultant at SISCO, a subsidiary of RCM&D, a Baltimore-based provider of insurance consulting and risk management services. -
MD personally liable for huge jury verdict?
If a jury verdict is returned for $5 million against a physician whose policy limit is $1 million, simple math indicates the physician would then be personally liable for $4 million. -
Faster resolution of med/mal suits
A recent Supreme Court decision could mean faster resolutions for plaintiffs and doctors in cases involving patients receiving Medicaid-funded care.1 -
Claims analysis identifies causes of OR fires
Electrocautery-induced fires during monitored anesthesia care were the most common cause of operating room (OR) fire claims, according to a recent study which analyzed closed malpractice claims in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Closed Claims Database since 1985.1 -
Off-label use ruling might help sued docs — Decision could affect med/mal suits
Pharmaceutical companies could become more forthcoming with information provided to physicians on off-label usage of medications as a result of a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. -
Parent removing child AMA? Know legal risks! MD protecting child is easier to defend
Was a physician attempting to protect a child from harm due to a parents refusal of care? -
Physician Legal Review & Commentary: $388,000 awarded to family of patient who died after failure to monitor administration of Coumadin
A San Francisco jury awarded $388,000 to the family of a deceased patient of a prominent local cardiologist for failure to monitor the patients blood levels during administration of the drug Coumadin. -
Physician Legal Review & Commentary: Jury awards $1.5 million to patient who received negligent colonoscopy and subsequent laparoscopic surgery
A jury awarded a patient $1.5 million against a gastroenterologist and laparoscopic surgeon for their respective failure to perform a colonoscopy and subsequent laparoscopic surgery repair to the colon.