70% of Maryland OB/GYNs Sued for Medical Malpractice At Least Once

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 14 Dec 2004 - 15:00 PDT

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70% of Maryland's OB/GYNs have been sued at least once for medical malpractice, with the average settlement exceeding $1 million, according to a report by the Maryland Public Policy Institute, the Washington Times reports.

According to the report -- titled, "Medical Malpractice: Is It Time for Tort Reform in Maryland?" -- Maryland doctors are expected to face a 33% malpractice insurance premium increase on Dec. 31, with average premiums reaching $150,000.

According to the report, premiums increased by 28% in 2003 and 10% in 2002. "This is not atypical for the United States," Michael Krauss, a professor at George Mason University School of Law and the author of the report, said.

He added that some states' premium increases are more than 70%. "Maryland's crisis is not an anomaly," Krauss said. According to the report, Maryland could benefit from tort reform, such as caps on jury awards in malpractice suits and limits on attorney fees, the Times reports.

Maryland state officials are considering spending $30 million to $50 million to help physicians cover the higher premiums, according to the Times. Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) is working with Democratic leaders in the state Legislature to write tort reform legislation to be considered in a special session this year, according to the Times (Redding, Washington Times, 12/12).