How to Avoid Being Sued For Medical Malpractice
September 14th, 2010 | 
Author: 
A recent study by the AMA says that male doctors are sued more than females, and the most sued are general surgeons and OB’s. This is not a surprise to our firm, we are a medical malpractice insurance company/broker who has been providing general surgeon medical malpractice and OB medical malpractice insurance for 16 years.
Both specialties can have similar characteristics. They perform lots of surgical procedures and have a limited relationship with the patient, when compared to the patient’s family physician. (Exception if the OB is also the patients Gyn)
Why males over females, male physicians can have more tunnel vision and be seen as less caring. Meaning they concentrate so hard on doing the procedure, that they can forget there is a scared person they are working on.
It is simple Physicians who are likeable are less likely to be sued. We have found this in our experience; doctors who are always hurried and not personable often have the most claims, and those who are not had the least. Studies show those MD’s who are the most kind to their patients do not get sued. Tips for an amicable doctor-patient relationship:
Sit down for a minute with patient and be eye level, or if the patient is on the exam table sit on a
stool and have them sit above you.
- Talk at a normal pace and look the patient in the eye
- Force yourself to listen and ask questions to show you are listening and you care
- Explain the procedure and ask if they have any concerns and listen to them
- Shake their hand or pat their shoulder
If possible call the patient the night before the procedure if you’re a surgeon, and or go see them in the hospital one more time than necessary. Talk with the family answer their questions or concerns.
Think about the person, this may be their first time in a hospital; they and their families are scared. For you this is another of many procedures to come, but for them this is a big event. Slow down and show you care, and if the procedure goes wrong at least the patient and the family have a favorable image of you. Otherwise you become the faceless nameless, or worse the rude cold doctor who harmed them or their family member. Part of many malpractice claims is the sense of revenge, or “that jerk has to pay”, this can be avoided with a little effort.
What a surgeon or OB/Gyn wants their image to be, if the procedure goes wrong, is the patient and or the family feels: Dr X is such a great person and he/she tried everything and this was just one of those things. But what great physician Dr X is, he/she was very caring, kind, he explained that this was not a for sure thing.
Parting thoughts, remember you became a physician to help people, show this with your patients. Besides you lessen the chance of a law suit, you also will build a very successful practice since people will refer you to their friends and family.
HCP National is a medical malpractice company, who specializes in surgical medical malpractice, General Surgeon malpractice insurance and Ob/Gyn Malpractice Insurance
Posted in Malpractice Insurance | 
Tags: Ama, Doctor Patient Relationship, Family Physician, Insurance Broker, Male Doctors, Male Physicians, Medical Insurance, Pace