Table 3

Attributable fraction of severe outcomes by malpractice allegation group (1986*–2010)

Malpractice allegation groupAttributable fraction of disability (%)Attributable fraction of death (%)Attributable fraction of disability or death (%)
Diagnosis related33.839.336.5
Surgery related21.511.316.4
Treatment related18.324.321.3
Obstetrics related14.75.510.1
Medication related3.67.15.4
Other (all categories with <5% of total each)8.212.510.3
Total100100100
  • *Data on severity of injury are available in the NPDB only for claims filed after 31 January 2004. This table does not include claims filed before 2004, so claims paid during the 1980s and 1990s are under-represented in these analyses.

  • NPDB, National Practitioner Data Bank.