How Do Malpractice Suits Affect Doctors?

[iomar]

Many on Yahoo Answers say that its a long, expensive and very emotional process when a medical doctor gets sued for malpractice!

Is this true?

[zackary42]

Many on Yahoo Answers say that its a long, expensive and very emotional process when a medical doctor gets sued for malpractice!

Is this true?

Yes.

If you had to close your practice, pay a lawyer, and have your reputation, livelihood and bank account on the line with every lawsuit, regardless of whether it's frivolous or not - you'd agree. Then, once you're sued, your malpractice insurance premium goes up. Doctors then take extra measures to cover any possible exception, ordering unnecessary tests and procedures to rule out the 1 in 1000000 chance that it's not what they think it is simply to avoid being sued.

[troyes]

Not exactly. Most attorneys for this kind of case will tell you they don't make a dime unless you do. I was burned severely by a doctor I trusted. I was so very young and didn't want to hurt feelings but I started the process due to my malady. It maybe took a year. Becareful, though, a lot of lawyers are in cahoots with the hospitals and work out a 'plan' ahead of time. Make sure your lawyer is not local or near the hospital. Also the more you document, the better.

[mads]

It also becomes an issue of what equipment they use. If a hospital uses a cheaper alternative to the industry standard, it can become a liability in court. This kills competition in the medical equipment market and keeps the prices of products artificially high.