Medical Malpractice Statistics

According to the website True Cost of Healthcare, the number of licensed physicians for 2014 in Florida was 71,024. While the trend for malpractice payment claims has been decreasing in the United States, Florida physicians are still being sued for medical malpractice, and one out of every one hundred physicians make a medical malpractice payment of some kind. Since 2003, policymakers have been working on medical malpractice reform. Changes included shorter times in which to file claims, caps on non-economic damages, caps on legal fees charged by attorneys, more stringent expert requirements, and the right for the offending doctor’s lawyer to speak with the patients treating physicians. Thankfully, the caps on non-economic damages was struck down and has been ruled unconstitutional.

The number of physicians and residents in the state continues to grow. Medical malpractice claims result from misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose a condition, or treating a patient in a way that is different than the norm (below the standard of care). The parameters for filing a malpractice claim are stringent, and it’s not possible to win a case simply because there was a mistake. The patient must be able to prove that they sustained injuries as a result of the negligence or mistreatment, and that those injuries caused pain, suffering, and economic damages.

2014 Florida Medical Malpractice Claim Statistics

• The population in Florida was 19,893,297 in 2014.
• There was 1.06 paid medical claims per every 100 physicians, ranking Florida as 7th for payments made to patients.
• The amount of payments made per capita was $11.21, making Florida 19th in the United States.
• In 2013, the state of Florida ranked number 18, with payments per capita at $10.36.

Payments Made to Patients in Medical Malpractice Claims

• Total payments made for MDs and DDs combined in 2014 were near 190 million dollars $190,000,000.00).
• The total payments for all medical providers in 2014 was slightly higher at roughly 200 million dollars ($200,000,000.00).
• The total payments made, as adjusted for inflation, are significantly lower than in 2003.
• The total payments for all providers in 2003 was near 500 million dollars ($500,000,000.00).

Adverse Actions Reported for Florida Physicians Due to Medical Malpractice Claims

• In 2014, 2061 complaints were filed against physicians.
• Only 28 physicians lost clinical privilege and and panel membership.
• 2 physicians lost professional society membership.
• 23 physicians were involved with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
• 164 physicians were excluded from HHS OIG.

Payments Made for Medical Malpractice Claims

• In 2014, a total of 983 medical malpractice payment claims were made.
• Four of the payments in 2014 were greater than $2,000,000.
• The highest range of payments was in the $100,000 to $249,000 range, with  276 payments made in this range.
• In 2004, payments in this same range numbered 397.
• 2004 saw the highest number and amount of medical malpractice payment claims from 2004-2014.
• 2007 saw the highest number of over $2,000,000 claims paid, with 15 payments made that year.
• The total amount of money in millions of dollars paid out for medical malpractice claims in 2014 was 222.98 million.
• In 2004, the total amount of money paid out in millions of dollars was 354.18 million.
• The total amount of money paid out for medical malpractice claims has been on a slow decline since 2004.
• Medical malpractice claims are decreasing over time according to the website court statistics.
• The plaintiff win rate in medical malpractice trials is roughly 23%, much lower than for other personal injury cases where the win rate is 59%.
• 99% of medical malpractice cases include a jury trial, where only 93% of other personal injury trials include a jury trial.
• Medical malpractice trials have a mean length of 5 days, while other personal injury lawsuits have a mean length of 2 days.