The Malpractice Experience of Obstetricians with Shoulder Dystocia: Preparation May Mitigate Risks With This Unpredictable Event
Shoulder dystocia (SD) is a rare complication of vaginal delivery. The purpose of this study was to better understand factors that may contribute to medical malpractice claims with SD and to offer recommendations to practicing obstetricians regarding the management of SD.
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The Industry’s Strongest Malpractice Claims Defense
The Doctors Company is founded and led by physicians, which gives us a keen understanding of the impact of a malpractice claim. If a claim is ever made against you, we fight to win—both in and out of the courtroom.
March 14, 2022, KevinMD
Tackling Trial Delays, Social Inflation, and Skeptical Jurors in a Pandemic World
Marco Spadacenta, Senior Vice President of Claims for The Doctors Company, discusses the changing face of trials and jurors and suggests what can be done in light of these changes to successfully defend physicians in medical malpractice cases.
Professional Education
Delayed Diagnosis of Sepsis (Claims Corner CME)
In reviewing closed malpractice claims, The Doctors Company has identified delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis as a serious problem that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article highlights the importance of timely recognition of symptoms that point to a diagnosis of sepsis, and the need for quick initiation of treatment. Factors contributing to the delayed diagnosis and treatment of sepsis are discussed, including clinical judgment errors such as failure to note the importance of significant clinical symptoms, failure to seriously consider sepsis as high on the differential diagnosis, failure to use a sepsis recognition tool as an adjunct to the exam, failure to order appropriate tests to rule out sepsis before assuming another diagnosis, and failure to admit the patient to the hospital for treatment.
July 01, 2025, MedCentral
Malpractice Risks for Neurologists: How to Avoid a Lawsuit
Diagnostic error is the most prevalent reason for lawsuits against neurologists, occurring in about one-third of the claims. Experts share top strategies to reduce malpractice risk, including documentation, vigilance about differential diagnoses, and more.
July 23, 2024, The Journal of Healthcare Risk Management
Social Inflation and Health Care Risk Management
This paper examines the concept of social inflation as it affects medical malpractice insurance claims, a phenomenon that warrants monitoring by risk managers.
Medical Malpractice and Preparticipation Sports Physicals
Physicians should be aware of liability risks associated with preparticipation sports physicals.
Professional Education
Empowering Patients Through Open Clinical Notes
This course focuses on the 21st Century Cures Act mandate for interoperability to support patients’ access to their health information. To comply with the information blocking rule, healthcare providers must ensure that they are not engaging in practices that constitute information blocking, such as restricting access to patient electronic health information, imposing unreasonable fees for EHI access, or failing to respond to requests for EHI in a timely manner.
Video Aug 13, 2018
What to Expect from Litigation: Dr. Del Zotto's Perspective
This video, the second in a series showcasing actual claims experiences and providing physicians with insight about what to expect if they are sued for malpractice, features Dr. Thomas A. Del Zotto. He discusses the claim that was made against him and how the support of his insurer, his attorney, and expert witnesses helped him win his case.