Characteristics of medical professional liability claims against dermatologists: data from 2704 closed claims in a voluntary registry.
Characteristics of medical professional liability claims against dermatologists: data from 2704 closed claims in a voluntary registry.
Available online from MWHC library: 1995 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - 2006
BACKGROUND: The Physician Insurers Association of America established a voluntary registry in 1985 that contains 239,756 closed claims. The registry is maintained for educational programs to reduce patient injury and medical professional liability (MPL) claims. CONCLUSIONS: MPL issues are important to all practicing dermatologists. The most common allegation against dermatologists in this study was improper performance of operative procedures on the skin, excluding skin grafts. Error in diagnosis of malignant melanoma was the next most common allegation. Malignant melanoma claims were paid in 42.2% of cases with an average indemnity payment of LIMITATIONS: The data are subject to selection and reporting biases. In addition, the registry does not contain exposure data, so incidences and prevalences are not calculable. METHODS: Descriptive techniques are used to present summary information for the dermatologic claims in the registry. OBJECTIVE: This report provides a description of MPL claims against dermatologists. RESULTS: Of 239,756 closed claims, 2704 (1.1%) involve dermatologists. Of the 2704 closed claims, 775 (28.7%) resulted in an average indemnity payment of
English
0190-9622
*Dermatology
*Insurance Claim Review/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]
*Liability, Legal
*Malpractice/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]
Humans
Registries
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Dermatology
Journal Article
Available online from MWHC library: 1995 - present, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - 2006
BACKGROUND: The Physician Insurers Association of America established a voluntary registry in 1985 that contains 239,756 closed claims. The registry is maintained for educational programs to reduce patient injury and medical professional liability (MPL) claims. CONCLUSIONS: MPL issues are important to all practicing dermatologists. The most common allegation against dermatologists in this study was improper performance of operative procedures on the skin, excluding skin grafts. Error in diagnosis of malignant melanoma was the next most common allegation. Malignant melanoma claims were paid in 42.2% of cases with an average indemnity payment of LIMITATIONS: The data are subject to selection and reporting biases. In addition, the registry does not contain exposure data, so incidences and prevalences are not calculable. METHODS: Descriptive techniques are used to present summary information for the dermatologic claims in the registry. OBJECTIVE: This report provides a description of MPL claims against dermatologists. RESULTS: Of 239,756 closed claims, 2704 (1.1%) involve dermatologists. Of the 2704 closed claims, 775 (28.7%) resulted in an average indemnity payment of
English
0190-9622
*Dermatology
*Insurance Claim Review/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]
*Liability, Legal
*Malpractice/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]
Humans
Registries
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Dermatology
Journal Article