A growing number of physicians are expressing concern over “nuclear” malpractice verdicts — lawsuits that result in awards of $10 million or more, according to a recent survey from The Doctor’s Group.
According to the survey, conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, 43% of physicians said they are concerned about these high-dollar verdicts. The survey included responses from 368 physicians across 47 states.
Here are three more stats to know:
1. Forty-three percent of physicians reported being concerned about nuclear verdicts, while 34% were neutral and 24% said they were unconcerned.
2. Forty-three percent of physicians said the risk of a nuclear verdict has made them more cautious in how they practice medicine. Still, a majority (57%) said it hasn’t affected their practice style.
3. Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated that the threat of facing a malpractice case is one of the more challenging aspects of being a physician today.
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