MALPRACTICE RISKS FOR UROLOGISTS

Objectives. To obtain data regarding the frequency of malpractice suit s against urologists. Methods. Those urologists listed in the Best Doc tors in America were sent an anonymous survey that requested their per sonal malpractice history (group A). Additionally, the professional re sponsibility history of the candidates for recertification by the Amer ican Board of Urology in 1996 (group B) was reviewed. Results. One hun dred ten urologists in the United States in group A were surveyed. Nin ety-one (83%) responded. Seventy (77%) had been sued (average 2.36 cla ims per physician who had been sued). Forty-four percent of the claims resulted in payment to the plaintiff. Claims frequency of group A was 0.09 claims per physician per year. Urologists in the Northeast, Nort h Central, and Mid-Atlantic Sections of the American Urological Associ ation were-less likely to be sued than urologists in the other five se ctions. There were 246 urologists in group B. One hundred twenty-two ( 49%) reported a claim against them (average 1.9 claims per physician w ho had been sued). Twenty-nine percent of the closed claims resulted i n payment to the plaintiff. Claims frequency of group B was 0.09 claim s per physician per year. Conclusions. Most urologists can expect to b e sued at least twice in their professional careers. The longer one is in practice, the greater the chance of a suit being filed. Where one practices may be a factor in the likelihood of being sued. There does not seem to be a direct or inverse correlation between professional re putation and the incidence of being sued. (C) 1998, Elsevier Science I nc. All rights reserved.