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What Specialties are Sued Most Often for Medical Malpractice in Florida?

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The human body is a vastly complicated machine, so it is no surprise that there are numerous specialty areas within the practice of medicine. However, you might be shocked to learn that health care providers in certain specialties are far more likely to be sued for medical malpractice than others. As a whole, almost two-thirds of all physicians admit that they have been named in at least one medical malpractice lawsuit during their career, according to survey results reported by Becker’s Hospital Review. When you break down the figures by specialty sector as you will see below, the numbers are disturbing.

If you suffered harm because of a specialty physician’s negligence, you may qualify to seek compensation for your losses. A Florida medical malpractice attorney can advise you on your options and explain the legal process. Still, you might find it interesting to learn which specialties are most likely to be sued by patients.

  1. OB-GYNs and Women’s Health Specialists: Physicians who provide care for women, particularly pregnant women, are the number one practice area for med mal lawsuits. Of OB-GYNs and related practitioners, 85 percent reported that they have been sued at some point during their career.
  2. Surgeons: Surgical procedures are very technical, taking place on and around very delicate organs, blood vessels, and other tissues. Mistakes can occur through the slightest amount of negligence by the surgeon, which is perhaps why 83 percent admit that they have been the subject of a med mal lawsuit.
  3. Orthopedics: Physicians who focus on the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system treat patients for disorders that affect movement and daily routines. When something goes wrong, the results can be life-changing for the patient. More than three-quarters of orthopedic doctors have been sued for medical malpractice.  
  4. Radiology: This specialty area is rarely involved with treatment, but rather diagnosis of medical conditions. Radiologists spend their days examining various medical images, including x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to identify abnormalities, tumors, and related disorders. Of these physicians, 72 percent report that they were named as a defendant in a lawsuit, often because of delays or mistakes in diagnosis.
  5. Anesthesiologists: Almost 60 percent of doctors specializing in anesthesia have been sued by patients, many times due to:
  • Errors in medication dosage;
  • Failure to properly monitor the patient under general anesthesia;
  • Improper management of medication flow rate;
  • Neglecting to review the patient’s chart for allergies or related medical issues; and,
  • Many other types of anesthesia errors.

Consult with a Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyer About Your Options 

There is no way of getting around treatment from a specialist if you have a medical condition that requires it, but you do have legal options if your physician is negligent in providing care. For more information on the monetary damages you may be able to recover, please contact the Miami medical malpractice lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. We can schedule a no-cost case assessment to review your circumstances and discuss strategies.

Resource:

Liability for Medical Student Negligence in Florida

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