Wall Street Journal Examines Anesthesiologists' Efforts To Reduce Malpractice Costs

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 22 Jun 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined how malpractice insurance premiums for anesthesiologists have decreased over the past 20 years because they have "focused on improving patient safety" rather than legislation that would "protect them against patient lawsuits." According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, anesthesiologists this year will have an average annual malpractice insurance premium of $20,572, a 37% decrease from 1985 after adjustment for inflation. Anesthesiologists have supported the use of devices that alert surgeons to potential problems in the operating room and have helped develop computerized mannequins that simulate such problems. In addition, anesthesiologists have supported procedures that protect unconscious patients from potential carbon-monoxide poisoning. As a result of such efforts, patient deaths from anesthesia over the past 20 years have decreased from one per 5,000 cases to one per 200,000 to 300,000 cases, according to studies compiled by the Institute of Medicine. The decrease in patient deaths from anesthesia has contributed to a reduction in the percentage of total malpractice lawsuits filed against anesthesiologists, the Journal reports. According to recent study conducted by Public Citizen, anesthesiologists in 1972 accounted for 7.9% of total malpractice lawsuits, compared with 3.8% between 1985 and 2001. In addition, the amount of payments from malpractice lawsuits against anesthesiologists also has decreased. According to ASA, the median payment from malpractice lawsuits against anesthesiologists in the 1990s was $179,010, a 46% decrease from the 1970s after adjustment for inflation. "Noting the success achieved by anesthesiologists, other doctors -- notably surgeons -- have aimed more at improving treatment methods," the Journal reports (Hallinan, Wall Street Journal, 6/21).

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