USE OF THE PHYSICIAN INSURERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA DATABASE AS A SURVEILLANCE TOOL FOR DIABETES-RELATED MALPRACTICE CLAIMS IN THE US

OBJECTIVE-To examine the available national surveillance data on malpr actice claims associated with diabetes and to determine the medical sp ecialties having the highest number of claims and the classes and cost s of filed claims relating to diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Da ta was abstracted from the Data Sharing Reports (DSRs) of the Physicia ns Insurers Association of America (PIAA), as well as a search of the PIAA's computerized database for the period spanning 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1996. Data on numbers of claims, medical causes of loss, indemnity paid, demographics of claimants and physicians, severity, an d medical specialties with diabetes-related claims were available. RES ULTS-A total of 906 diabetes claims were reported to PIAA, and the tot al indemnity paid was $26,892,848. A significant downward trend (P = 0 .004) was noted for the period between 1993 and 1996. Diabetes claiman ts were older and predominately male, relative to all claimants. Ophth almology, internal medicine, and general and family practice had the h ighest rates of reported claims at 16.5, 13.6, and 13.4 diabetes claim s per 1,000 claims, respectively. Of the diabetes-related injuries, 44 % occurred in the practitioner's office, as compared with 27% for all claims. A greater proportion of diabetes claims were associated with t he highest level of severity of injury with respect to all claims comp iled by the PIAA. CONCLUSIONS-The database of the PIAA can be a useful resource to monitor trends in diabetes-related malpractice. Further s tudy into whether claims result from lack of adherence to practice gui delines is needed. Prevention programs designed to reduce the liabilit y among high-risk specialties may also lead to improved care for the p atient with diabetes.