Medical malpractice insurers are beginning to sift through the thousands of claims from malpractice lawsuits that have been tried, settled, or dismissed over the years to pinpoint the reasons doctors are sued as well as the issues that threaten patient safety. The Doctors Company, the largest physician-owned malpractice insurer, has looked at 40 studies spanning 10,000 closed claims over the years, taking into consideration changes in medical malpractice laws and other issues to determine these risk factors and help hospitals implement safety protocols. Malpractice insurer for Harvard Medical School doctors and hospitals, Circo, has also analyzed doctor-patient risks and is developing a program to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Improper diagnoses and under preparedness can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits, especially in obstetrics. For example, if a medical professional fails to anticipate or recognize a larger-sized baby, injuries to the infant’s shoulder area, or brachial plexus, can occur. A 2015 study by The Doctors Company assessed factors contributing to birth injuries and found that damage to the brachial plexus was one of the most common injuries alleged in 882 obstetrics claims from 2007 to 2014. Through these findings, hospitals will be able to employ new safety and prevention strategies to lower medical malpractice risks.
The following reviews from our clients do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of another legal matter. The cases mentioned in the reviews are illustrative of some of the matters previously handled by Grant & Eisenhofer involving various areas of birth injury law. These reviews are endorsements.
The following reviews from our clients do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of another legal matter. The cases mentioned in the reviews are illustrative of some of the matters previously handled by Grant & Eisenhofer involving various areas of birth injury law. These reviews are endorsements.