Physician Risk Management – November 1, 2013
November 1, 2013
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Did MD fail to act on test results? Successful suits are occurring!
Dr. A, an internal medicine physician, refers her patient with ongoing gastrointestinal distress symptoms to Dr. B, a gastroenterologist on staff at the same institution. Dr. B suspects possible colitis and orders a colonoscopy. -
Lawsuits against primary care physicians entail drug errors and missed diagnoses
Most malpractice claims against primary care doctors are the result of missed or delayed diagnosis or drug errors, according to an analysis of 34 studies. -
Fear of lawsuits linked to MDs' decisions
Physicians' anxiety over malpractice lawsuits drives defensive medicine moreso than other measures of risk, suggests a new survey of more than 3,500 physicians treating more than 29,079 Medicare patients with chest pain, headache, or lower back pain. -
Caught in plaintiff's 'wide-net' approach? Sit tight is sometimes best approach
While a defendant served with a new lawsuit often cannot believe that someone would be willing to criticize his or her care, the truth is that an expert already has offered a critical opinion, says Ryan M. Shuirman, JD, an attorney at Yates, McLamb & Weyher in Raleigh, NC. -
Patient is no-show, has bad outcome? Successful lawsuit could occur
In a recent malpractice claim, the plaintiff was a man diagnosed with prostate cancer who followed up regularly with his physician for a year. He was put on medication after he started to experience some complications. -
Study: Many surgical claims involve postoperative care
Several years ago, The Doctors Company conducted a study of surgical specialties, looking at preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgical care. -
Few cases allege failure to treat pain — Most claims allege excessive prescribing
Malpractice claims involving excessive prescribing of opioid analgesics are increasing, but malpractice risks also stem from withholding appropriate opioid analgesics. -
Physician Legal Review & Commentary Supplement
Numbness and difficulty after orthopedic surgery result in more than $1 million verdict for the plaintiff and Diagnosis of pneumonia instead of CHF results in plaintiffs verdict at trial