Female Patient History Form Neurosurgery: Fill & Download for Free

I know exactly what happens during surgery. As a victim of medical sexual abuse and currently going through trauma therapy, I had to have major abdominal surgery this week. The surgery had been scheduled since May, and the thought of being unconscious after an unfortunate surgery last fall and knowing nothing about it until I awoke to find things done to me that I was unaware would be done, I was afraid the same thing might happen again.I informed the surgeon that I was an abuse victim, and he arranged everything so that I would be as comfortable as possible. Since the abuse involved two male doctors, two male nurses, and a male technician, he arranged for an all female surgical team for me.I drafted an addendum to the consent form, and I edited the form itself to make sure my needs would be met, and they were. The doctor agreed to everything. I was reasonable and knew that emergencies could change things. One of the requests was that anesthesia not be induced until after the prep work was completed. I also discussed the drugs to be used with the anesthesiologist, and she agreed to use no drugs that produce amnesia. No Versed or Propofol.Thus, I was awake for all the preparation work, including placing all the leads and pads, catheterization, skin prep, and positioning, everything up to placing the sterile drapes This relieved any apprehension that I had, and I was ready to be put out without any fears.When I moved onto the OR table, blankets were removed, and my gown was pushed up to my neck to do a full abdominal prep. Before the skin prep, leads were placed, and the electro cautery plate was attached to my hip, and the leg stockings were placed. Then I was catheterized, my legs covered, and the safety strap placed over my thighs. The skin prep solution, which was very cold, was then applied to my body. Each step was explained by the person before doing it and while it was being completed, so there were no surprises.Finally, when it came time to do the sterile draping, I said okay, and anesthesia was induced. I was out like a light for the two-hour surgery. I was comfortable and found all the prep to be routine and nothing to be afraid of. Having a female team really made me feel at ease. And knowing what is done beforehand and being able to go through it saved me further trauma.Since I had none of the usual drugs, I woke up in the OR after the surgery, completely aware of my surroundings and to everyone saying hi to me and checking to make sure I was okay. The anesthesiologist and the PA who had also done the pre op exams were there to check with me and make sure everything went okay. The PA who assisted also checked in with me.There are some doctors who will go that extra mile to make things go well. I am very much relieved to know what really goes on during surgery instead of signing a blank form and not being given the information everyone should have before surgery. The doctor, his office staff, all the nurses and techs were wonderful. It made a potentially traumatizing experience one that gave me new faith in doctors and nurses. I know they care about me and are willing to go that extra mile. I can now face the remainder of my therapy and continue to heal.To those of you who think this is going too far, you haven’t walked in the shoes of a sexual abuse victim, especially one who has been abused by the doctors and nurses who are supposed to be helping you. A sacred trust is broken in the worst way. You have no business judging. And you do not have the compassion to treat patients as people and want to help us overcome something that has devastated us through no fault of our own. Save the recriminations and insults about asking for same gender teams and special accommodations. Nothing that was done changed the procedure in any away or inconvenienced anyone involved. Everyone was happy at the outcome, and they were glad that I made progress toward getting my life back.Update: August 19, 2019: I had a flashback last week when I had a colonoscopy. I found out right before the procedure that the tech would be male. It didn’t occur to me that there would be a male tech. I’ve had colonoscopies before, and they had always been female. I explained my history of abuse and asked for a female. I had to state directly that I didn’t want the male to be present. I did that. The charge nurse found a female to take his place. My history is in my record, so it really threw me a curve. It triggered bad memories, which I’m now dealing with and made an ED visit this week more difficult when I had to deal with a male doctor. Two steps forward and one back. Don’t let your guard down and make assumptions.Update: June 19, 2020:I had a lumbar laminectomy yesterday. I had a really positive experience with the neurosurgeon who performed the procedure. It began in January when I first met him.We discussed the surgery, and I told him of my prior sexual abuse and that I needed a female team. I wasn’t too optimistic about getting one, however, because most neurosurgery procedures require strength for lifting and positioning patients. I was also meeting the surgeon for the first time and knew nothing about him other than his reputation. He turned out to be extremely supportive, and he listened to me. When I left his office, he had promised me he would put together an all female team. Surgery was scheduled for March.The coronavirus postponed my surgery, with no date in sight. I thought my chances of keeping the female team were slim to none. When I got a call on June 8th for a June 19th surgery date It was short notice, but I took it, because I would have an all female team. I was relieved and grateful that he remembered my request and made the effort with all the madness of the pandemic. It turned out that the surgery slot came up, and a female team was scheduled for it. He had not forgotten my request and offered the spot to me instead of someone else. I hadn’t expected a date until later in the summer.In pre op, before the surgery, each member of the team came to meet me and introduce themselves. i got to talk to them—the surgeon, his assistant, nurses, and technicians. There were six of them. I was put at ease by this exchange. Surgery was a success. The surgeon said it went perfectly. He expects a full recovery, and I’m feeing good about the whole experience. Incidentally, I have Kaiser coverage.Update October 6, 2020I had the first of two surgeries to evaluate and place a sacral nerve stimulator. The second surgery will be on October 20. It was to be done under general anesthetic, but I opted for lidocaine with some fentanyl for pain control. It involved fluoroscopic placement of leads in the right spot in the sacral nerve, so it was a great deal of poking around, and an inch and a half incision to insert the permanent device. Surgery lasted for almost two hours.Again, I had a female team, including the anesthesiologist. Though there were quite few needle pricks for the lidocaine and the incision, it never rose to the lever of needing a general. The anesthesiologist did a great job with the fentanyl.I was very apprehensive, knowing the assistant surgeon would be male and that a male representative from the medical device company would also be there. I was told he would not scrub in and would be off in some corner of the OR where he couldn’t see the surgery.It was particularly important that I was awake for this one. It turned out that the medical rep observed the whole surgery, as he had to give directions to the surgeon and measure electrical muscle responses to be sure the surgeon implanted the leads in the optimal spot of the correct foramen.That was not part of the game plan, and I was very hesitant about allowing him to watch. However,since I was awake, I had control over the events. I could have said no, and surgery would have stopped with no chance of having it done in the future. With the empowerment of the local anesthetic, I made the decision to leave him there, and I was comfortable with it. I was part of the discussion as the surgery progressed and talked to the rep to find out what he was doing. I couldn’t have done this six months or a year ago. I was still too traumatized from being abused.Everything turned out well, and I felt like I had reached a new milestone in my effort to heal from my experiences. The rep was very nice and very professional as were all the others who were present. The bottom line is that I was awake. I was the one who decided to go ahead with the surgery, even knowing what I had suffered in the past. Being conscious made all the difference.I left the OR saying goodby to everyone and thanking them for being so good to me. I really am grateful for the way they conducted the surgery, what that meant to me and the implications for my future. It is the first time I have been able to deal with the presence of males in surgery other than the surgeon. No flashbacks, no descending into that deep hole of trauma into which the previous sexual abuse events had placed me. I think I will be able to go through with the next surgery. It will also be done with local anesthetic, at my request. It was a shock to have the rep there, but my rational self put a lid on my emotions to allow me to accept his presence. I’m glad I did. The surgery has been highly successful and is a life change for me. I will definitely qualify for the implantation surgery on October 20. And I learned a great deal about emerging from the dark place.Update October 20, 2020I had the second of the two surgeries to implant the permanent device. Another female team and male surgeon and assistant surgeon. The rep showed up, but had the nurse tell hi to leave until after prep and draping. He left. All he had to do was shoe me how to use the hand held devices to control the device. He never came back and did that in post op. Again, local anesthetic and fentanyl. The surgeon removed the temporary device, opened the pocket prepared during the first surgery, and implanted the permanent device. Surgery was fast and easy. Again, I was ready there minute I got to post op, although they made me stay for about an hour.Again, this was a positive experience, thanks to a great surgeon who has now operated on me four times. I would not have been able to handle a male team, but I’m making progress.

Q. What types of doctors face the worst malpractice suits?Malpractice Risk, by Physician Specialty (rand.org)Data from 1991 through 2005 for nearly 41,000 physicians covered by a large nationwide liability insurer. At least 200 physicians in each of 24 specialties, allowing analysis of malpractice risk, by specialty. category.)Malpractice ClaimsAcross specialties, 7.4 percent of physicians annually had a claim, and 1.6 percent made an indemnity payment. Among physicians in neurosurgery, 19.1 percent annually faced a claim, but just 2.6 percent in psychiatry did (Figure 1). Physician age, year, and state of practice did not affect these estimates.Specialties with higher proportions of claims do not always incur higher proportions of payments. For example, gynecology had the 12th highest average annual share of physicians with a claim but the highest share with a payment.Indemnity PaymentsAcross specialties, the mean indemnity payment was $274,887, and the median was $111,749 (Figure 2). Specialties most likely to face indemnity claims were not always those with the highest average payments.The difference between mean and median reflects a skewed distribution toward large payments in some specialties. Obstetrics and gynecology accounted for the most payments of at least $1 million, followed by pathology, anesthesiology, and pediatrics.Career Malpractice RiskMost physicians can expect to face at least one malpractice claim over a 30 year career. By 45 years of age, 36 percent of physicians in low-risk specialties are likely to have had at least one malpractice claim, compared to 88 percent of those in high-risk categories. By this same age, just 5 percent in low-risk specialties and 33 percent in high-risk ones are likely to have made at least one indemnity payment. By 65 years of age, 75 percent of physicians in low-risk specialties and 99 percent of those in high-risk ones are likely to have had at least one malpractice claim, and 19 percent of those in low-risk specialties and 71 percent of those in high-risk ones are likely to have had at least one indemnity payment.Findings and ImplicationsThese results confirm malpractice rates in many high-risk specialties found in earlier research based on self-reporting. The results indicate higher malpractice rates than previously reported in low-risk specialties, possibly because of the stigma of a claim in these fields. The results also indicate that many will never have to make an indemnity payment. Nevertheless, the risk of a claim, the possibility of a claim leading to a payment, and the size of a payment contribute to high levels of perceived malpractice risk among U.S. physicians. ■Malpractice Risk According to Physician Specialty | NEJMTop 10 Specialties Sued: 2013 Malpractice ReportNearly 1,400 physicians who were sued for medical malpractice share their experience in Medscape’s recent Malpractice Report.According to the report, the top 10 medical specialties experiencing the most lawsuits were:Most malpractice claims against primary care physicians are a result of missed diagnoses, particularly of cancer and myocardial infarction in adults and meningitis in children, as well as medication errors.Other highlights from the malpractice report include:35% of lawsuits were “failure to diagnose” (17% “failure to treat”)74% of physicians were surprised to be sued24% of physicians sued were dismissed prior to deposition– 45% went to depositions– 21% went all the way to trial61% took up to 2 years to conclude57% of plaintiffs received no monetary award– 18% received up to $100,000– 16% received up to $500,000– 2% received over $2 million62% of responding physicians said the lawsuit result was fair.In almost all cases, the insurer paid the full payout amount.29% of physicians said they no longer trust patients and treat them differently.93% of sued physicians said saying “I’m sorry” would not have helped.Respondents to the malpractice survey advise other doctors to: follow up even when you don’t think you have to; practice more defensive medicine; document more often and more thoroughly; and get rid of rude, demanding, noncompliant patients.Click here to view the full Malpractice Report by Medscape.Medscape Malpractice Report 2015: Why Most Doctors Get SuedPaid Malpractice Claims Among US Physicians by Specialty, 1992-201410 Worst Medical Specialties with Highest Malpractice RatesOur list of 10 worst medical specialties with highest malpractice rates, should give you some insight into which medical jobs are probably the hardest to perform. Being sued can’t be a pleasant experience, and according to statistics by the age of 65 years, 99% of physicians in high-risk specialties are projected to face a malpractice claim. If you think that those belonging in low-risk specialties are in a significantly better position, you are wrong because 75% chance of being sued is still a lot. Because of this, most physicians have a feeling that lawsuit is almost inevitable, and resort to defensive medicine. “Defensive medicine in simple words is departing from normal medical practice as a safeguard from litigation”. Ordering unnecessary tests, avoiding patients with complications, eliminating high risk procedures, are some forms of defensive medicine. The main problem with defensive medicine is that it raises the cost of healthcare, but it can also pose health risks to the patient.wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.comWhile statistics are very interesting, they still can’t explain why male doctors have nearly 2.5 times the odds of being sued for malpractice than female doctors. Problems in physician – patient communication are claimed to be the biggest cause of malpractice claims, maybe that answers the question as to why female doctors face fewer claims.For our list, we are using data from a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. We are ranking specialties by the annual probability of facing a malpractice claim, however the study presents data for all the specialties in the form of a graph, only giving exact numbers for some specialties – this is why we will mention only the percentages that are explicitly stated in the text of the study; but this poses no problem for correct ranking. Before we begin with our list of 10 worst medical specialties with highest malpractice rates, it is important to mention that while the specialties on our list have the highest rates of malpractice, they do not necessarily have the highest indemnity payments. For example, pediatrics have a rate of just 3.1% and are not on our list, while at the same time they have the highest average payment of $520,924, which is pretty high considering that average across specialties is $274,887, albeit if you think about it, it is quite logical, because jurors are more likely to be harsh towards a doctor whose mistake caused an injury of a child, than for example towards a doctor that messed up someone’s plastic surgery.10. Oncology (9.14%)Some claims against oncologists are delay in diagnosis of cancer, incorrect chemotherapy dosage, suboptimal pain management for a dying patient, negligence for informed consent.Romaset/Shutterstock.com9. Pulmonary medicine (9.32%)Failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism or lung cancer, premature extubation of a ventilated patient, injury of a patient during bronchoscopy are just some examples of pulmonary medicine malpractice claims.Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com8. Urology (10.49%)When it comes to urology, the number 8 on our list of worst medical specialties with highest malpractice rates, surgical procedures with postoperative complications are the most common reason for malpractice claims, prostatectomy usually resulting in the most expansive claims. Taking into account that average rate of malpractice claims for all physician specialties is 7.4%, and that urology’s got rate above 10%, it’s not surprising that it is on our list of 10 worst medical specialties with the highest malpractice rates.Image Point Fr/Shutterstock.com7. Obstetrics and Gynecology (11.02%)Events during labor and delivery, missed diagnosis of fetal anomalies, shoulder entrapment with brachial plexus nerve injury, neurological impairment, wrongful birth or death are common claims against Obstetricians/Gynecologists.Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com6. Gastroenterology (11.64%)Medication errors relating to heartburn, errors in diagnosis associated with colonic malignancies are some of the most prevalent claims.Image Point Fr/Shutterstock.com5. Plastic Surgery (12.7%)Some plastic surgery malpractice injuries are: scarring, disfigurement, caving of the surgical site, infection, paralysis, and as with any major surgery – death.iconogenic/Shutterstock.com4. Orthopedic Surgery (14.16%)Total knee/hip replacement, knee arthroscopy, exploration and decompression of the spinal canal, shoulder arthroscopy, and rotator cuff repair, are some procedures that are associated with malpractice claims.Minerva Studio/Shutterstock.com3. General Surgery (15.31%)Annual probability of facing a malpractice claim for general surgery, the number three on our list of worst medical specialties with highest malpractice rates, is 15.3 percent. Surgery on the wrong body part or wrong patient, unnecessary disfigurement, nerve injuries, misdiagnosis, unsterilized equipment are some causes of general surgery malpractice claims.Stoyan Yotov/Shutterstock.com2. Thoracic-cardiovascular Surgery (18.9%)Common errors during Thoracic-cardiovascular surgery are accidental injury of neighboring organs, infection in the chest cavity, sponges or surgical instruments being left in the patient’s body, and of course in the worst cases death. Annual probability of facing a malpractice claim for thoracic-cardiovascular surgery is 18.9%.sudok1 / 123RF Stock Photo1. Neurosurgery (19.1%)If we were to take malpractice claims statistics as a measure of how difficult a surgeon’s job is, we’d come to the conclusion that neurosurgeons have the toughest job. However, it is significant to notice that the difference with thoracic-cardiovascular surgery is just 0.2%, which may be considered negligible and therefore a tie between the two specialties. With the annual probability of facing a malpractice claim of 19.1%, and average indemnity payment of $344,811 neurosurgery is on the top of our list of 10 worst medical specialties with highest malpractice rates.Herrndorff/Shutterstock.comWhen the Doctor Faces a LawsuitWithin months of completing my training, I received the call that every doctor dreads.“You’ve been named in a malpractice lawsuit,” said the hospital administrator on the other end of the line.The family of a patient I had seen briefly a year before believed that a colleague’s decision not to operate hastened her demise. Now their lawyers, combing through the medical records, believed that a single sentence in my note brought that doctor’s decision into question. As a second or maybe even third opinion, I had written that the woman was a “possible candidate” for surgery.The truth was that when I saw her she was a possible candidate, but only tenuously so. In fact, her health deteriorated so rapidly that by the time she finished seeing all the specialists and returned to her original surgeon, the chances of her surviving any treatment, no matter how heroic, were almost nil.Though I knew all that, in the weeks after that telephone call I couldn’t help questioning myself, going over the case in my mind as soon as I woke up, then again and again late into the night. I froze with fear every time I was asked for my opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan and became a master at evasion, littering my assessments and write-ups with words like “maybe,” “perhaps” and “will await further work-up.” And I wondered if my colleagues knew, if the blot on my record had already soaked through the fabric of my professional reputation.In the end, the family dropped the case; I never met with any lawyers or went to court. But memories of the all-encompassing threat of a claim came flooding back when I read a recent study of how litigation affects doctors.Medical malpractice lawsuits have existed in the United States for more than 150 years, though today, most medical errors are never pursued in court, and a large majority of claims never result in any kind of payment to patients. And even though the direct and indirect costs of such suits account for only 2.4 percent of total health care costs, that’s still $55 billion yearly. To say nothing of the even more important social costs, an issue addressed last month in The Journal of the American College of Surgeons.Researchers surveyed more than 7,000 surgeons and found that nearly one in four were in the midst of litigation. Surgeons involved in a recent lawsuit were more likely to suffer from depression and burnout, including feelings of emotional exhaustion and detachment, a low sense of accomplishment and even thoughts of suicide.“Malpractice is at the top of the list of major stressors for most physicians,” said Dr. Charles M. Balch, the lead author and a professor of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “It’s right up there with financial distress, serious work-home conflicts and life-and-death circumstances.”Other studies estimate that, depending on the specialty, anywhere from 75 percent to 99 percent of practicing doctors will over the course of a lifetime be threatened with a lawsuit. “We are not talking about some small subset of physicians who are vulnerable because they are weak,” said Dr. Tait D. Shanafelt, a co-author and associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “Malpractice affects a wide swath of our colleagues and their patients.”Doctors who have been sued may end up practicing defensive medicine, ordering unnecessary tests and medications or refusing to treat patients with more complex illnesses altogether as a safeguard against future litigation. Those same doctors can also become burned out, which can lead to even more errors, and more malpractice claims.“Burnout may be what reinforces the connections between malpractice, defensive medicine and poor-quality care,” said Amitabh Chandra, a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and an economist who has written extensively on medical malpractice.The study authors propose that one way to disrupt the negative cycle is to improve communication between patients and doctors, so that patients are aware of the risks that can occur despite a doctor’s best efforts. Another important step is instituting programs that continue those conversations even after an error occurs. “We need supportive work environments and more programs that allow doctors and patients to resolve issues directly,” Dr. Balch said.But change will require looking at malpractice reform in a new way, one that gives weight not just to the economic costs but to the ways reform might affect how patients and doctors interact.“Ultimately we are dealing with doctors who are working under enormous pressures,” Dr. Chandra said. “For them, the emotional costs are colossal.”Physicians React: Life After a LawsuitSandra LevyHow Does a Malpractice Lawsuit Change Doctors' Lives?Getting sued changes some physicians' lives and the way they view patients. When doctors are sued for malpractice, they often feel anxiety, anguish, depression, a sense of betrayal, and shame. The emotional distress they experience can last a lifetime.A lawsuit can drag on for months, or even years. When the case is pending, many physicians suffer. They don't eat well, they don't sleep well, and they are frequently depressed.After the lawsuit is settled or resolved, many doctors leave their practice, retire early, practice defensive medicine, and look at patients as potential adversaries for the remainder of their careers. Even when doctors win their court case, they may have lost substantial earnings in time away from their practices during court depositions and hearings. Physicians may also suffer in their personal lives.Spurred by a recent article in Medscape, in which five doctors described the emotional stress they went through during their malpractice trials, a lively discussion ensued."Three close college friends were never the same after their stupid lawsuits. It has to be a variant of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and while we're having a shortage of docs (especially primary care...), our legal system is removing good docs from the front line," said an internist.Sued More Than OnceAn ob/gyn who was sued three times expressed the emotional toil that ensued:All cases were settled, mainly because it was cheaper and because I was not sure that I could tolerate the emotional effects of a trial. I did continue to practice and didn't always see patients as adversaries, but I do think it took its toll. I retired at 60 after practicing for 30 years in ob/gyn with a main hospital that serviced an underprivileged community. I retired from exhaustion and burnout. I loved my work, and if it were possible to practice with shortened hours and without risk for lawsuits, I would still be working.Yet another physician who has experienced more than one lawsuit said:I was sued for something that was done by another medical provider without my knowledge. After over 3 years of stress, I was found not liable and dismissed. Two years later, I was just starting to feel like my life was getting back on track. Another suit was filed by the relatives of a deceased nursing home patient who had a court-appointed guardian. I cared for that patient for several years. Those relatives never once came to see him. The suit was dismissed, but my anger remains. Now it is no longer enough to provide good care and relate well with patients and families. Apparently, we are now supposed to relate well to family members we do not even know exist. I am actively planning for retirement and now work primarily on administration. If I had it to do over again, I would never have gone to medical school.A cardiologist who worries about lawsuits said:Now that I'm in private practice, I have fear of being sued, which does force me to spend extra hours every day to make sure I documented well. Between this and the pressure of sustaining productivity in private practice, it does affect other aspects of my life. I do ask myself whether I did the correct thing going into medicine...but my answer is "yes, I did"...the problem is, maybe I'm practicing in the wrong country. It's almost impossible to get sued in other countries, and it is based on true medical neglect. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in this country, and this is why we have sky-high medical costs, medical fraud, and sometimes a lack of trust in your own patients.A Call for Tort ReformSeveral respondents were adamant that tort reform is needed to protect physicians. An internist said:We desperately need tort reform. To paraphrase Atul Gawande, 'I do approximately the same number of surgeries a year as ground balls fielded by a major league third baseman. If that third baseman makes two errors, he wins the gold glove. If I make two errors, then patients end up injured, or worse.' Point being, we all make mistakes, and of course there needs to be a way to compensate those who experience bad outcomes. Unfortunately, our current system results in unnecessary stress, loss of productivity, defensive medicine, and logjams in our judicial system.Another call for tort reform came from a dermatologist:All of these cases and replies are further evidence of how bad tort law is in this country. If, like most of civilization, a plaintiff MUST PAY damages to the winning defendant, it is highly probable that none of these suits would have taken place. The pathetic Band-Aids of tort reform would not change the fact that the doctor and all of his other patients and the whole of society, other than the plaintiff and his client, LOSE as soon as a suit is filed, even when the defending doctor "wins," the dermatologist added.Some physicians took an even stronger stand. An otolaryngologist commented:Doctors shouldn't complain about the high cost of malpractice insurance. They should threaten to withhold their precious lifesaving skills until unscrupulous patients and their predatory lawyers back off. The legal system is not set up to be fair to doctors, and the reason is that doctors have allowed it to evolve that way. We only have ourselves to blame, really.A family medicine doctor reported, "I know directly of at least one case where the case was lost, and the subsequent emotional toll on the physician was catastrophic. Another I know of indirectly where the loss of the malpractice suit was followed by massive clinical depression."Finally, an ophthalmologist whose lawsuit lasted 7 years said:I had seen a patient for ptosis of the upper eyelids who also complained of excessive tearing of his eyes. I had found that this was due to laxity of his lower eyelids and recommended repair at the same time. He declined. After the surgery, he sued me because I caused his eyes to tear even though my records documented that the problem was preexisting. Even his wife sued me separately for lack of consortium. He also alleged lack of informed consent. The charges stated that I coerced him into signing the consent on his gurney on the way into the operating room. The fact that the surgical consent was signed 7 days earlier in my office and was witnessed did not influence the judge who allowed the suit to go forward. Seven years of grief and heartache.Finally, the suit was dismissed the night before trial because the plaintiff's attorney admitted that they had tried all those years to get an expert witness to represent him and couldn't do so. He ultimately had gone to another hospital and had the lower lid laxity repaired (which I had recommended), and his tearing problem resolved.A wary physician had this advice for colleagues: "Don't give the plaintiff attorney any information. He/she may be fishing for discovery without the cost of discovery. In my case, it was a friendly phone call asking for my side of what happened. I took the call. Wrong. Call your malpractice carrier immediately. Follow the advice of the attorney assigned to you."Five Doctors Tell 'How I Survived After Being Sued'It's Easy To Predict Which Doctors Will Face Malpractice SuitsOJO_IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGESA tiny fraction of doctors are responsible for a surprising number of malpractice claim settlements, according to new research published in The New England Journal of Medicine.Just one percent of doctors were linked to 32 percent of malpractice settlements paid out between 2005 to 2014, according to anonymized data collected from the U.S. National Practitioner Data Bank, which tracks nationwide information on all practicing physicians’ malpractice suits and their settlements.What’s more, the greater the number of claims a doctor settled, the chances they’d pay out another one in the future were exponential. Doctors who settled two malpractice suits had about twice the risk of being involved in a third settlement when compared to those with just one settlement. And doctors with three paid malpractice settlements were three times more likely to be accused of malpractice and pay out again.The highest risk doctors — those with six or more paid settlement claims — had more than 12 times the risk of a recurring settlement payment.While the study’s findings are meant as a wake-up call for hospitals and liability insurers, they are also an important reminder to patients that a minority of doctors may still be practicing despite disturbing track records.Who is most likely to face malpracticeCertain kinds of doctors are more likely to be involved in recurring malpractice settlements. Neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, general surgeons, plastic surgeons and OB/GYNs were about twice as likely to have repeat malpractice settlements compared to internal medicine doctors, even after the researchers controlled for the inherent risk of things like surgery.Male doctors were also 40 percent more likely to have a recurring settlement compared to their female colleagues, while physicians younger than 35 only had about one-third the risk of recurrence compared to older ones. As these young physicians grew older, their risk of recurrence increased.In all, the study analyzed 66,426 paid malpractice claims for 54,099 doctors over ten years. Almost one-third of the claims centered around patient deaths. Fifty-four percent were suits about serious physical injury. Most malpractice lawsuits ended in settlements and averaged $371,054; only three percent resulted in verdicts.How patients are protectedBy federal law, when a hospital is thinking about giving a doctor admitting privileges in their institution, they have to look up his or her malpractice and disciplinary history in the Data Bank. Only hospitals, medical boards and federal investigators are allowed to query the databank in full, so patients don’t have access to this information.In one sense, patients can feel assured that the hospital has already vetted a doctor and knows their full history, good or bad. But the law doesn’t stipulate what hospitals do with that information, or how it should inform their decision-making process, which explains why some high-risk doctors are still working.The study’s lead researcher David Studdert, a medicine and law professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, says he intended his findings to be a call to hospitals, liability insurance companies and other institutions about this minority of high-risk doctors. Studdert calls his work an important step in developing a predictive, national tool that could one day identify high-risk physicians before they start accumulating malpractice claims.“Can you identify high risk physicians early on?” Studdert said. “If the answer is yes, then [institutions] want to hook into some kind of intervention program that can get in and reduce those risks.”If our study provokes a debate about what the right level of transparency is for multi-claim physicians, I think that’s a good thingDavid Studdert, senior researcherWhat malpractice actually meansOverall, very few doctors are sued for malpractice. Over the 10-year period Studdert analyzed, only six percent of all practicing American doctors were linked to a paid malpractice settlement. And just because a doctor chose to settle a malpractice suit, it doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is admitting to malpractice, he pointed out. It could be a strategic move to avoid the costs of a lengthy lawsuit. It also could be that an investigation revealed he or she delivered substandard — but not negligent — care, and the settlement is an acknowledgment of that.“It may be that the physician is delivering substandard care, it may be that physician has poor conversational skills or some combination of those things,” Studdert said about recurring claim settlements. “But either way it’s a little bit of a warning sign and suggests at the very least that someone should be looking into the quality of care that clinician is delivering.”Some states make data malpractice settlements and disciplinary action for doctors available through the state medical board, either on a website or by submitting a formal request, according to The Washington Post. Consumer sites like docinfo.org or healthgrades.com, which spit out reports on disciplinary actions and settled lawsuits, are also avenues for research, notes the Post. But the information probably won’t give you much insight into why that claim was settled, or for what.Say you’ve got an upcoming breast cancer surgery and you want to research your surgeon. You may not know if the claim settled against your doctor was for breast surgery or something else completely unrelated to the type of procedure you’re getting, says Studdert, which makes this kind of data imperfect.Arthur Caplan, founding director of the division of medical ethics at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, pointed out that another problem with the available public databases is that they show only settled claims — not ongoing lawsuits. Patients could try to ask the doctor or surgeon face-to-face how many malpractice suits they’ve settled or how many are ongoing, he added, but while they should expect an honest answer, there are “no guarantees.”“I don’t think the potential patient can do much except get second opinions,” said Caplan.While Studdert’s findings are aimed at hospitals and other medical institutions, he understands the curiosity and worry it might arouse in patients. But he hopes his analysis demonstrates that malpractice lawsuits are a highly concentrated phenomenon among a small percentage of practicing doctors, and that the claims are skewed even more toward a few physicians who are sued again and again.“If our study provokes a debate about what the right level of transparency is for multi-claim physicians, I think that’s a good thing,” he concluded.5 of the worst medical malpractice cases (today.mims.com)

Listed below are just thirty of the dozens of examples:1. AudiologistAudiologists specialize in ear related issues, particularly with regard to hearing loss in children. These doctors work with deaf and mute children to assist in their learning to communicate. They typically work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, audiology clinics, and occasionally in schools.2. AllergistAllergists work with a wide variety of patients who suffer from issues related to allergies, such as hay, fever, or asthma. They are specially trained to treat these issues and assist patients in dealing with them and what to do when they are encountered.3. AnesthesiologistAnesthesiologists study the effects and reactions to anesthetic medicines and administer them to a variety of patients with pain-killing needs. They assess illnesses that require this type of treatment and the dosages appropriate for each specific situation.4. CardiologistCardiologists specify in the study and treatment of the heart and the many diseases and issues related to it. They assess the medical and family history of patients to determine potential risk for certain cardiovascular diseases and take action to prevent them.5. DentistDentists work with the human mouth, examining teeth and gum health and preventing and detecting various different issues, such as cavities and bleeding gums. Typically, patients are advised to go to the dentist twice a year in order to maintain tooth health.6. DermatologistDermatologists study skin and the structures, functions and diseases related to it. They examine patients to check for such risk factors as basal cell carcinoma (which signals skin cancer) and moles that may eventually cause skin disease if not treated in time.7. EndocrinologistEndocrinologists specify in illnesses and issues related to the endocrine system and its glands. They study hormone levels in this area to determine and predict whether or not a patient will encounter an endocrine system issue in the future.8. EpidemiologistEpidemiologists search for potential diseases that may crop up and cause a great deal of problems for a population and look for vaccinations for current terminal diseases, such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.9. GynecologistGynecologists work with the female reproductive system to assess and prevent issues that could potentially cause fertility issues. Female patients are typically advised to see a gynecologist once a year. Gynecological work also focuses on issues related to prenatal care and options for expectant and new mothers.10. ImmunologistImmunologists study the immune system in a variety of organisms, including humans. They determine the weaknesses related to this system and what can be done to override these weaknesses.11. Infectious Disease SpecialistInfectious Disease Specialists are often found in research labs and work with viruses and bacteria that tend to cause a variety of dangerous diseases. They examine the source of these organisms and determine what can be done to prevent them from causing illnesses.12. Internal Medicine SpecialistInternal Medicine Specialists manage and treat diseases through non-surgical means, such as anesthetics and other pain-reliving drugs. They work in many different healthcare facilities and assist other physicians in finding the most appropriate means of treatment for each individual patient.13. Medical GeneticistMedical Geneticists examine and treat diseases related to genetic disorders. They specialize in disorders that are hereditary in nature and work to find ways to prevent already-present diseases from passing down to the next generation through reproduction.14. MicrobiologistMicrobiologists study the growth infectious bacteria and viruses and their interactions with the human body to determine which could potentially cause harm and severe medical conditions. They also seek to find immunizations for diseases caused by these organisms.15. NeonatologistNeonatologists care for newborn infants to ensure their successful entry into a healthy and fulfilling life. The focal point of their examinations is on premature and critically ill infants who require immediate treatment at the risk of fatal consequences.16. NeurologistNeurologists work with the human brain to determine causes and treatments for such serious illnesses as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia, and many others. In addition to research on the brain stem, neurologists also study the nervous system and diseases that affect that region.17. NeurosurgeonNeurosurgeons operate on the human brain and body to treat and cure diseases affecting the nervous system and brain stem. They work to alleviate symptoms from serious brain illnesses that cause patients a great deal of physical and emotional pain.18. ObstetricianObstetricians work in a particular area of gynecology that focuses on neonatal care and childbirth. They also perform other operations related to the female reproductive system including c-sections, hysterectomies, and surgical removal of ovarian tumors.19. OncologistOncologists focus on the treatment and prevention of cancer in terminal and at-risk patients. They offer such treatments as examination and diagnosis of cancerous illnesses, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to destroy cancer cells in the body, and follow-up with survivors after treatment successes.20. Orthopedic SurgeonOrthopedic Surgeons treat ailments concerned with the skeletal system, such as broken bones and arthritis. These doctors are often found in emergency rooms since accidents that result in broken bones are often unintentional and demand immediate treatment.21. ENT SpecialistENT Specialists concentrate in areas related to the Ear, Nose, and Throat, and sometimes even ailments related to the neck or the head. Children often seek treatment from ENT specialists for surgery in the above areas, and adults see these doctors for sinus infections.22. PediatricianPediatricians work with infants, children, and adolescents regarding a wide variety of health issues, ranging from the common cold to severe conditions. They make their work environments highly “kid-friendly”, often featuring a range of toys and bright colors.23. PhysiologistPhysiologists study the states of the human body, including emotions and needs. They particularly focus on the functions of the human body to assess if they are working correctly and attempt to determine potential problems before they become an issue.24. Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgeons perform cosmetic surgery to enhance the physical attributes of a patient or amend a physical issue that the patient finds unsatisfactory. The ultimate goal of professionals in this field is to “correct” improper human forms.25. PodiatristPodiatrists work on and study ailments that afflict the feet and ankles of patients. They are often referred to a “foot doctors” and treat such afflictions as athlete’s foot, calluses, nail disorders, and other foot injuries and infections.26. PsychiatristPsychiatrists, who occupy a more prevalent place in the research field than the medical field, study behavior and mental processes. They often work with patients in one-on-one sessions to alleviate mental illnesses and behavioral disorders.27. RadiologistRadiologists diagnose and detect physiological ailments through the use of x-rays and other such imaging technologies. Through the use of these technologies, they scan the victim’s body for hazardous cells, such as cancer cells, and look for fractures or breaks in accident victims.28. RheumatologistRheumatologists, similar to Allergists, diagnose and treat allergies, as well as autoimmune disorders. However, unlike their Allergy-focused neighbors, these doctors also treat joint and tissue problems and diseases that afflict the immune system.29. SurgeonSurgeons can be found at the operating table, performing a wide variety of surgeries from head to toe. Subsets of surgeons include such areas as general surgery, neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, ENT surgery, and oral surgery.30. UrologistUrologists specialize in issues related to the urinary system, such as urinary tract infections. They also treat and study afflictions of the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder, and male reproductive organs.