Study: Medical malpractice cases common, payouts are not

The findings of new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that only one in five malpractice lawsuits results in a payout. The authors conclude that the truth behind these numbers is complicated.

The Associated Press/Philadelphia Inquirer: 1 in 5 Malpractice Cases Leads To A Payout
Only 1 in 5 malpractice claims against doctors leads to a settlement or other payout, according to the most comprehensive study of these claims in two decades. But while doctors and their insurers may be winning most of these challenges, that's still a lot of fighting. Each year about 1 in 14 doctors is the target of a claim, and most physicians and virtually every surgeon will face at least one in their careers, the study found. ... The study might seem to support a common opinion among doctors that most malpractice lawsuits are baseless, but the authors said the truth was more complicated than that (Stobbe, 8/18).

The Wall Street Journal Law Blog: New Study Measures Doctors' Malpractice Risks
In a report that cuts to the heart of the tort-reform debate, the New England Journal of Medicine has released this study that attempts to measure the economic and emotional impact of medical malpractice cases on doctors. The thrust of the findings: malpractice cases are common but rarely successful (Koppel, 8/17).