Massachusetts General Hospital

Looming Malpractice

Waiting for claims resolution takes up more than 10 percent of the average medical career

07/Jan/2013

The average physician can expect to spend nearly 11 percent of his or her career with an unresolved malpractice claim. Some specialists will spend nearly a third of their careers with open claims.

The length of time it takes to resolve a malpractice claim places stress on patients, physicians and the legal system. The time spent with open claims may be even more distressing for physicians than the financial costs of the claims.

link to full Harvard Medical School release on study led by MGH physician Anupam Jena