Jul 11, 2011

Most Medical Malpractice Claims Abandoned Due to Weak Cases

A new study from Health Affairs finds that most medical malpractice claims are neither settled nor adjudicated, but abandoned by the plaintiffs. Out of 3,695 claims filed in Massachusetts, 59% were dropped, with the most important reason being that plaintiffs obtain more information during a lawsuit and conclude that a claim is weaker than they thought.

Unfortunately, malpractice insurers alone spend about $25,000 per dropped claim. The study calls for lawyers on both sides to exchange information more quickly and discuss cases more openly to reduce the cost of malpractice litigation.

You can find the study here and a summary in the Boston Globe here.