Trends in Medical Malpractice Claims in Gastroenterology in the United States

Abstract

Introduction: Over the past 25 years, the practice of gastroenterology has become more complex and procedure-oriented. This increases the risk for adverse outcomes and raises concerns about medical malpractice claims. The advent of risk mitigation strategies such as risk management courses, pre-procedure checklists, timeouts, and automated callback lists reduces adverse outcomes. However, the effectiveness of these approaches in reducing malpractice claims against gastroenterologists is unknown. This study evaluates trends in medical malpractice claims against gastroenterologists in the United States temporally. Methods: We analyzed closed medical malpractice claims collected by the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA) between January 2000 and December 2013. Collectively, the member companies of PIAA insure 60% of practicing physicians in the United States, and the database contains information on more than 265,000 malpractice claims. We evaluated closed claims against gastroenterologists during the specified time period, and corrected for the number of gastroenterologists practicing in the United States according to available data published in the American Medical Association Masterfile. Results: From 2000 to 2013, the number of claims filed against gastroenterologists increased by 272%, with an average annual increase of 18%. During this same time period, the number of gastroenterologists increased by 28%, with an average annual increase of two percent. When corrected for the number of gastroenterologists, claims increased by 191%, with an average increase of 20% annually. On average, two percent of gastroenterologists were sued annually. Conclusion: Medical malpractice claims against gastroenterologists increased considerably from 2000 to 2013. The increase in malpractice claims outpaced the growth of practicing gastroenterologists per year. Understanding the trends in medical malpractice claims will facilitate critical evaluation of gastroenterology common practices and enhance risk mitigation strategies.