Distribution of outcome severity and associated payments by malpractice allegation group (1986*–2010)
| Malpractice allegation group | Outcome severity | n (proportional severity within category) | Mean, US$ | Malpractice payments in US$ millions (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis related | Minor | 8136 (24.4) | 192158 | 1560 (12.1) |
| Disability | 11544 (34.7) | 526884 | 6080 (46.9) | |
| Death | 13614 (40.9) | 390186 | 5310 (41.0) | |
| Total | 33294 (100) | 389191 | 13000 (100) | |
| Surgery related | Minor | 17134 (60.3) | 175719 | 3010 (35.6) |
| Disability | 7361 (25.9) | 514254 | 3790 (44.9) | |
| Death | 3918 (13.8) | 421257 | 1650 (19.5) | |
| Total | 28413 (100) | 297282 | 8450 (100) | |
| Treatment related | Minor | 18102 (55.2) | 81490 | 1480 (21.4) |
| Disability | 6237 (19.0) | 465274 | 2900 (42.1) | |
| Death | 8430 (25.7) | 393413 | 2510 (36.5) | |
| Total | 32769 (100) | 234780 | 6890 (100) | |
| Obstetrics related | Minor | 1539 (18.2) | 246659 | 379 (6.4) |
| Disability | 5008 (59.1) | 948563 | 4750 (80.7) | |
| Death | 1923 (22.7) | 393413 | 757 (12.9) | |
| Total | 8470 (100) | 694988 | 5880 (100) | |
| Medication related | Minor | 2676 (42.1) | 91992 | 246 (15.1) |
| Disability | 1224 (19.2) | 514092 | 630 (38.6) | |
| Death | 2462 (38.7) | 306572 | 755 (46.3) | |
| Total | 6362 (100) | 256240 | 1630 (100) | |
| Other (all categories with | Minor | 4898 (40.8) | 109364 | 536 (14.3) |
| <5% of total each) | Disability | 2794 (23.3) | 647477 | 1810 (48.2) |
| Death | 4322 (36.0) | 327369 | 1410 (37.5) | |
| Total | 12014 (100) | 312935 | 3760 (100) |
*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.