The top reason for lawsuits against physician specialists is complications from surgery or treatment, according to the Medscape Malpractice Report 2017.
Here are the top 10 reasons specialists are sued:
1. Complications from surgery or treatment: 31 percent
2. Failure to or delay in diagnosis: 28 percent
3. Diseases progress or a poor outcome: 24 percent
4. Delayed treatment or failure to treat: 16 percent
5. Wrongful death: 15 percent
6. Abnormal injury suffered: 10 percent
7. Surgeon poorly documents patient instruction and education: 3 percent
8. Informed consent was improperly obtained or there wasn't informed consent: 3 percent
9. Safety procedures weren't followed: 2 percent
10. Medical administration errors: 2 percent