A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that 1% of physicians accounted for 32% of paid malpractice claims over the past ten years. The high cost of medical malpractice contributes to the increased cost of care, meaning that this small number of doctors cost everyone. Even worse, these doctors continue to practice medicine today.
The following data comes from the Intelligent Conservative, a medical malpractice clearinghouse that has been collecting data on medical malpractice since 1986. Note that the physicians are only identified by a number, not their name, making it impossible to know if your physician is part of the 1%.
Physician No. 33041 had at least 31 malpractice payments between 1993 and 2005, totaling more than $10 million in damages. Nine of those payments were related to “failure to use proper aseptic technique,” which means the physician did not observe the most basic precautionary measures to prevent infection.
Physician No. 43923 had at least 21 malpractice payments between 1992 and 2003, including eight improperly performed surgeries, three unnecessary surgeries and two surgeries on the wrong body part. Operating on the wrong body part is so egregious that the profession considers it a “never event,” meaning it should never happen.
Neither doctor faced disciplinary action from a state medical board, according to the database.
More needs to be done to make sure these “bad” doctors don’t continue to harm people. We have a right to proper medical care and access to information on the doctors that care for us.
If you suspect a problem in the medical care you have received, please call TK LawFirm today.
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