Characteristics of Medical Professional Liability Claims in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases

This report presents data describing a large cohort of closed cardiovascular medical professional liability (MPL) claims. The Physician Insurers Association of America established a registry of closed MPL claims in 1985. This registry contains data describing 230,624 closed claims for 28 medical spe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of cardiology 2010-03, Vol.105 (5), p.745-752
Main Authors: Oetgen, William J., MD, MBA, Parikh, P. Divya, MPH, Cacchione, Joseph G., MD, Casale, Paul N., MD, Dove, James T., MD, Harold, John G., MD, Hindle, Brenda L., MS, MBA, Maglaras, Michael, MA, Rodgers, George P., MD, Wright, Janet S., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aneurysms
Angioplasty
Atherosclerosis
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis
Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - therapy
Cohort Studies
Compensation and Redress - legislation & jurisprudence
Coronary vessels
Humans
Insurance Claim Reporting - economics
Insurance Claim Reporting - legislation & jurisprudence
Insurance Claim Reporting - statistics & numerical data
Insurance, Liability - economics
Insurance, Liability - legislation & jurisprudence
Insurance, Liability - statistics & numerical data
Liability, Legal - economics
Medical Errors - economics
Medical Errors - legislation & jurisprudence
Medical Errors - statistics & numerical data
Medical sciences
Medicine - statistics & numerical data
Professional liability
Quality of care
Registries
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:This report presents data describing a large cohort of closed cardiovascular medical professional liability (MPL) claims. The Physician Insurers Association of America established a registry of closed MPL claims in 1985. This registry contains data describing 230,624 closed claims for 28 medical specialties through 2007. The registry is maintained to support educational programs designed to improve the quality of care and to reduce patient injury and MPL claims. In this report, descriptive techniques are used to present summary information for the medical cardiovascular claims in the registry. Of 230,624 closed claims, 4,248 (1.8%) involved cardiovascular medical physicians. Of the 4,248 closed cardiovascular medical claims, 770 (18%) resulted in indemnity payments, and the average indemnity payment was $248,291. In the entire database, 30% of closed claims were paid, and the average indemnity payment was $204,268. The most common allegation among cardiovascular closed claims was diagnostic error, and the most prevalent diagnosis was coronary atherosclerosis. Claims involving cardiac catheterization and coronary angioplasty represented 12% and 7% of the cardiovascular closed claims. Aortic aneurysms and dissections, although relatively infrequent as clinical events, represent a substantial MPL risk because of the high percentage of paid claims (30%) and the very high average indemnity payment of $417,298. In conclusion, MPL issues are common and are important to all practicing cardiologists. Detailed knowledge of risks associated with liability claims should assist practicing cardiologists in improving the quality of care, reducing patient injury, and reducing the incidence of claims.
ISSN:0002-9149
1879-1913
DOI:10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.10.072