A. Karcz et al., MALPRACTICE CLAIMS AGAINST EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS IN MASSACHUSETTS - 1975-1993, The American journal of emergency medicine, 14(4), 1996, pp. 341-345
This study reviewed 549 malpractice claims filed against emergency phy
sicians in Massachusetts from 1975 through 1993, with a total of $39,1
68,891 of indemnity and expense spent on the 549 closed claims. High r
isk diagnostic categories (chest pain, abdominal pain, wounds, fractur
es, pediatric fever/meningitis, epiglottitis, central nervous system b
leeding, and abdominal aortic aneurysm) accounted for 63.75% of all cl
osed claims and 64.23% of the total indemnity and expense spent on clo
sed claims. Missed myocardial infarction (chest pain) claims accounted
for 25.47% of the total cost of closed claims but only 10.38% of clos
ed claims. The number of claims for missed myocardial infarction incre
ased in the post-1988 closed claim group compared to the pre-1988 grou
p; fractures and wounds were significantly less frequent in the post-1
988 group. The frequency of high-risk claims decreased in the post-198
8 group, largely because of the decline in fracture and wound claims.
The category of missed myocardial infarction had a larger percentage o
f claims closed with indemnity payment than without indemnity payment.
This parameter may serve as a marker for the overall seriousness of c
laims associated with a particular allegation, unlike the average cost
per claim, which may be skewed by a few large awards. Copyright (C) 1
996 by W.B. Saunders Company.