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Physicians' cognitive errors and their liability consequences
Author(s) -
Bartlett Edward E.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of healthcare risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.221
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2040-0861
pISSN - 1074-4797
DOI - 10.1002/jhrm.5600180407
Subject(s) - indemnity , liability , medicine , malpractice , medical emergency , actuarial science , finance , business , political science , law
Diagnostic errors account for one‐fifth of lawsuits against hospitals and physicians. Of greatest concern is the rising severity of lawsuits alleging diagnostic errors—over a 12‐year period the average indemnity for these claims has risen by 258%. The hospital departments most affected are the emergency room, obstetrics, radiology and pathology. This article probes the structure of diagnostic errors and makes recommendations how to reduce the frequency and severity of these claims.