In a recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health-policy research institute in California and Washington D.C., it was found that Alabama was tied for 50th with regard to medical malpractice claims paid per 1,000 active physicians. The study found that Alabama had a total of 41 claims paid through judgment or settlement in 2006. This figure equates to 3.7 claims paid per 1,000 active physicians in the State. The national average was 13.3. The 41 claims paid ranked Alabama 41st among the states. Finally, the total payout for these 41 claims was $15,867,500.00 which ranked Alabama 38th nationally.
This study should debunk the myth that there are too many frivolous lawsuits against physicians. Contrary to President Bush’s rantings about this “problem” a few years ago, the fact of the matter is these cases are too difficult and expensive to win for a lawyer to take on a frivolous claim on a contingent basis. What attorney wants to invest $50,000.00 or $100,000.00 in a frivolous claim? That attorney would have more fun taking his money to Las Vegas.
October 27, 2007 at 8:50 pm |
[…] (rates go up because of the financial markets and company profits, not lawsuits – see our earlier post)? Or, do you want to be able to bring a claim against a doctor who makes a mistake because […]