Study shows steep drop in rate of medical malpractice claims paid
The number of medical malpractice claims paid on behalf of physicians has plummeted since 2002, according to a new study by professors from Harvard and Stanford universities.
The study, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the rate of paid claims on behalf of doctors fell from 18.6 per 1,000 physicians in 2002 to 9.9 paid claims per 1,000 doctors last year.
The study was written by Michelle M. Mello and David Studdert, from Stanford law and medical schools and Allen Kachalia, from the Harvard Medical School.
The Journal Sentinel in June reported that the drop in claims paid for medical malpractice in Wisconsin was greater than decline nationally.
Nationally the number of claims paid dropped 39% from 2003 to 2013 while in Wisconsin, the decline was more than 66%, according to the National Practitioner Data Bank, a registry maintained by the federal government.
Attorneys and others attribute the drop in claims paid in Wisconsin to a variety of laws that limit who could file medical malpractice lawsuits and that cap the amount of damages that a jury could award in the cases.
In addition, insurance companies representing Wisconsin doctors and hospitals only pay the first $1 million of any claim. The state-managed Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund pays all claims exceeding $1 million.
About Cary Spivak
Cary Spivak does investigative business projects and covers the casino industry. He has won numerous state and national awards.
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