Subject(s)
Gynecology/legislation & jurisprudence , Liability, Legal , Malpractice/legislation & jurisprudence , Obstetrics/legislation & jurisprudence , Adult , Female , Gynecology/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Insurance, Liability/economics , Male , Malpractice/statistics & numerical data , Middle Aged , Obstetrics/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Societies, Medical , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
Malpractice claims for failure to diagnose breast cancer are on the increase. Obstetrician-gynecologists are frequently targeted as defendants in these claims. A significant increase in the frequency and severity of these claims can be predicted by virtue of the widespread incidence and severity of the disease, coupled with changes in tort law. Physicians can learn risk management and loss prevention techniques by studying claims data and actual medical malpractice cases.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Legislation, Medical , Malpractice/legislation & jurisprudence , Medical Oncology , Adult , American Cancer Society , Diagnostic Errors , Female , Humans , Malpractice/statistics & numerical data , Mammography , Medical History Taking , Middle Aged , Physical Examination , United StatesSubject(s)
Ethics, Medical , Guidelines as Topic/standards , Gynecology/standards , Informed Consent/legislation & jurisprudence , Obstetrics/standards , Disclosure , Female , Gynecology/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Minors , Obstetrics/legislation & jurisprudence , Risk Assessment , Societies, Medical , Truth Disclosure , United StatesSubject(s)
Brain Injuries/economics , Congenital Abnormalities/economics , Insurance, Liability/legislation & jurisprudence , Obstetrics/legislation & jurisprudence , Brain Injuries/etiology , Disabled Persons/legislation & jurisprudence , Eligibility Determination/legislation & jurisprudence , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Obstetrics/economics , Pregnancy , United States , VirginiaSubject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Gynecology , Malpractice/statistics & numerical data , Obstetrics , Adult , Female , Humans , Liability, Legal/economicsABSTRACT
Are the judges surprising supporters of malpractice reform? What is the overall message of the ACOG survey of judges, and how can organized medicine use that message? On balance, the ACOG survey of judges shows that they agree with physicians who argue that the present system needs to be changed. The overall message is that the present tort system does not work very well in the area of expert witness testimony, the system of jury decision-making, or the awarding of damages. Since it does not work very well, the medical community must continue to advocate changes to the system, ones that are fair to society as a whole. The judges' opinions on what reforms would better serve society can be persuasive data to present to state and federal legislators. So it's not just lawyers vs. doctors anymore. After all, the judges are lawyers, too. And these lawyers seem to be on the doctors' side.
