Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Statistics
Medical errors can happen to any patient, and any medical professional can commit them. Even the best-rated hospitals can have negligent employees or practices that put patients at risk. Medical malpractice is an unfortunate reality that leaves people like you struggling and in pain.
Nationwide and Florida statistics about incidents of medical malpractice indicate that doctors and other healthcare professionals are far from perfect, and patients should exercise caution when picking providers whenever possible. If you are a victim of medical negligence or malpractice, a Florida medical malpractice lawyer can help you fight for full compensation.
Running the Numbers on Medical Malpractice in Florida and the United States
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals offer essential and lifesaving care to patients, providing valuable services to patients of all demographics. While the majority of patients trust their healthcare providers and the medical profession in general, some statistics demonstrate that this confidence may not be justified.
Many Who Commit Malpractice Are Repeat Offenders
A 2020 study published in the Journal of Patient Safety indicated that 1.8 percent of physicians were responsible for half of the payouts recorded in the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) over a 25-year span. Nearly 13 percent of these physicians had an “adverse licensure action.”
These repeat offenders can cause immense harm before they are finally stopped. One 2021 news article by CBS reported on a doctor who moved from Indiana to Florida and continued to commit malpractice because of lenient medical boards and the doctor’s alleged dishonesty.
There is no sure way to predict if a provider will commit malpractice, but the right medical malpractice attorney will be able to research the provider’s history and the facility’s records to see if your provider has a history of causing harm.
Many Florida Malpractice Lawsuits Are Successful
Looking at data from the NPBD over a 10-year range (2013 to 2023), approximately 43 percent of adverse action reports in Florida resulted in a payout. Of course, this data does not totally reflect the nuances of these reports. Some reports may be false accusations, and other reports may be true instances of malpractice, but the plaintiffs did not have strong evidence or a law firm capable of handling such complex claims.
While 43 percent might seem like an encouraging number for victims of malpractice in Florida, medical malpractice claims are far from easy. Many personal injury law firms will claim they handle these types of cases but lack the resources, experience, and knowledge to handle medical malpractice claims.
When looking for a malpractice attorney, look for a firm that has a track record of success and focuses on these complex cases.
The Value of Malpractice Claims Varies for Many Reasons
Looking at NPDB data again, we can also review the payment ranges of the malpractice cases in Florida from 2013 to 2023. Here is a breakdown of the payment ranges over this timeframe:
- Approximately 34 percent of malpractice payouts were valued at $99,999 or less.
- Almost 52 percent of payouts ranged anywhere from $100,000 to $499,999.
- 13 percent of medical malpractice payouts were $500,000 to $1.9 million.
- Less than 1 percent of payouts were $2 million or more.
There are many potential reasons why malpractice claims have such large value ranges. A lawyer will be able to assess the full range of your damages and make sure you are adequately compensated for your harm.
Florida Ranks Number Three for All Malpractice Payouts
In the same 10-year range, the NPDB reports that Florida had 12,384 medical malpractice payouts. This represents 10 percent of all the medical malpractice payouts in the United States. Although Florida providers and medical facilities have much to offer to patients, negligent errors can cost people their health and even their lives.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade results for Spring 2024 list 192 hospitals in the state of Florida. Many hospitals provide excellent care and have an A or B rating, but almost 40 percent of Florida hospitals have a C rating or lower.
These low grades often indicate issues after major surgeries, preventable health issues, communication problems between staff and patients, and other concerns.
There Are Some Professions With Higher Rates of Malpractice Lawsuits
Any type of physician or other medical provider can commit malpractice on a patient, but there are some trends worth noting. A 2023 analysis from the American Medical Association (AMA) indicates that some specialties are sued more often than others. Here are some of the percentages of physicians who report being sued at least once in their careers:
- 62 percent of OB-GYNs
- 49 percent of general surgeons
- 47 percent of orthopedic surgeons
- 47 percent of emergency medicine physicians
- 40 percent of radiologists
These fields often have a lot at stake, and the risks are high for patients. Negligent actions can spell disaster for patients and their loved ones.
Some Injuries and Errors Are More Common Than Other
According to a Forbes article published in 2022, some of the most common medical malpractice causes include:
- A delayed or wrong diagnosis: Issues like cancer, sepsis, or heart attacks are just some time-sensitive health issues that patients may face. When providers give an incorrect diagnosis or a late diagnosis or never diagnose an issue at all, patients pay the price.
- Surgical errors: Surgeons may leave behind foreign objects after surgery, or that may even perform the wrong procedure altogether. These and other errors can be signs of surgeon negligence.
- Birth and delivery errors: Pregnant patients rely on OB-GYNs, nurses, ultrasound professionals, and other professionals to take care of them and their children during this vulnerable time. Negligence, like a failure to recognize fetal distress or address maternal health issues, can be tragic to all patients involved.
- Medication errors: Doctors or nurses may administer the wrong medication or the wrong dosage, or they may even give patients unclear or incorrect instructions for taking it. Pharmacists and technicians may fill orders incorrectly, which can cause severe problems for patients.
Even if your case is not described above, you may still have a valid claim. Not every error counts as malpractice, so it’s best to have a lawyer review the details of your case.
Discuss Your Rights with a Florida Medical Malpractice Attorney
If your provider’s negligence caused you harm, Florida medical malpractice laws provide you with legal options. You may qualify to recover compensation for costs of medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. right away. We can set up a free consultation to discuss your situation in person at our Miami or Fort Myers offices, over the phone, or during a video conference.
