Medscape Survey Reveals Why Many Physicians are Sued

Most physicians will have a malpractice suit filed against them at some point during their career. That does not sound appealing. According to a recent Medscape survey, at least 80% of physicians have experienced at least one lawsuit by the time they reached age 60.

Portland, OR medical malpractice lawyers agree that there are three top reasons why physicians are sued for malpractice. 31% of respondents in the survey cited failure to diagnose as the top reason while an equal number agreed that patients suffered an abnormal injury. Third on the list of reasons was the failure to treat, which 12% of the respondents agreed to.

Some of the other common reasons for medical malpractice claims included errors in the administration and poor documentation of patient instruction, both of which as many as 4% of the respondents agreed were some of the common reasons for medical malpractice. Other reasons included lack of informed consent, and the failure to follow safety procedures. From the focal point originating from medical malpractice attorneys in Northwest Oregon, these reasons often lead to cases of malpractice and hospital neglect.

As many as 4,000 physicians were surveyed in Medscape’s study in which several said they were sued for qualitative reasons such as misdiagnosis or late diagnosis of cancer, post-operative infections, and injuries or death during surgery. Birth defects or fetal death also figured among the reasons for malpractice.

Among 47% of the respondents stated that they were named in a malpractice suit as one of many parties while as many as 12% said they were the only person named in the malpractice suit. The study revealed that among all physicians, obstetrician/gynecologists along with general surgeons were most likely to be sued. In the survey as many as 85% of obstetrician/gynecologists had been sued while general surgeons were just behind at 83% followed by orthopedists at 79%.

How to File a Complaint with the Oregon Medical Board?

Anyone who is injured or has lost a loved one due to medical malpractice or hospital neglect can address the issue with the Oregon Medial Board. You must download the complaint form from the Board’s website and fill the form with facts of your case. The name and address of the victim as well as the personal details of the licensee must be properly filled.  

Details of the injury along with the dates and names of hospital and attending medical staffs must be provided. Portland, OR medical malpractice lawyers acclaim that the plaintiff must provide description of how the incident happened. If the patient was also treated by any other physician, the names of those physicians must be furnished.

Northwest Oregon medical malpractice lawyers can help you in a number of ways. To begin with, they will assess your injuries and evaluate you case in order to determine if you have a medical malpractice claim and how much it is worth.

Malpractice and hospital neglect laws are complex and your legal professional will be in the best position to handle the complicated filing procedure and get medical experts relevant to the case to testify. Your legal representative will also provide valuable help when negotiating a settlement. However, make sure to consult a lawyer as soon as possible before the deadline for filing a lawsuit expires.

Not sure where to find one? Click right here: Medical-Malpractice.USAttorneys. You control your own fate! We can help you help yourself.