V. Meredith et al., USE OF THE PHYSICIAN INSURERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA DATABASE AS A SURVEILLANCE TOOL FOR DIABETES-RELATED MALPRACTICE CLAIMS IN THE US, Diabetes care, 21(7), 1998, pp. 1096-1100
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.