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Neurosurgeons "Tap Dance" Around Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

The fishtail effect of the astronomical rise in medical malpractice claims offers unpredictable results, based on research by Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) in Portland, Ore., according to Newswise.com.

 

OHSU analyzed data from the American Board of Neurological Surgeons (ABNS) collected from 2004-2007, examining the correlation between numbers of practicing and retiring neurosurgeons and the malpractice histories of each state. The data was obtained from 4,584 active and retired neurosurgeons.

 

Here’s what OHSU found:

•States in “crisis” had a 5 percent increase in practicing neurosurgeons.
•In the 10 states with the largest increases in practicing neurosurgeons, eight were “severe” states and five were “crisis” states. The American Medical Association labels “crisis” states while the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies labels “severe” states.
•Non-crisis states realized a 2 percent decrease in practicing neurosurgeons.
•The financial amount of malpractice claims had no impact on practicing neurosurgeons in a respective state.

Instead of relocating to another state, neurosurgeons are limiting their medical practices to avoid malpractice lawsuits, analysts believe. Since doctors restrict their procedures, additional neurosurgeons are needed in the same geographic area to service patients’ medical/surgical needs.

“While malpractice claims do not on the surface appear to affect demographics alone, they inevitably erode the system of providing neurosurgical care to patients,” Dr. Zachary Litvack said. “As more neurosurgeons limit their scope of practice, patients will find it more difficult to obtain the expert care they need, and that is an issue that indeed needs to be addressed.” Litvack was in Chicago to present the study findings to the 76^th meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

There are 3,229 practicing neurosurgeons in the United States certified by the ABNS, Newswise.com reports. Neurosurgeons average paying $100,000 a year in medical malpractice insurance. Some payments reach $300,000 annually. In 2005, neurosurgeons paid $28 million in malpractice lawsuit claims.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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