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Brad O'Brien
Brad O’Brien, president of The Doctors Insurance Agency, has worked in the medical malpractice field since 1988. He is located in Novato, California.

Member Benefits for the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery sponsors The Doctors Company. AAO-HNS members receive unique benefits, including exclusive program discounts and credits.

The Doctors Company Assists Members Impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Due to disruption to member medical practices from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and consistent with direction from state insurance regulation offices, The Doctors Company will adjust policy cancellation and premium installment due dates for affected members. Premium due dates have generally been extended in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

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.

Social Inflation Causes Between $2.4 and $3.5 Billion of All Medical Malpractice Losses, The Doctors Company Study Finds
In the decade ending in 2021, between $2.4 and $3.5 billion, or 8 to 11 percent, of all medical malpractice losses incurred by physician-focused insurers stemmed from social inflation, according to new research from The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer and part of TDC Group.

The Doctors Company and ProAssurance Announce Early Termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period
The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, and ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA), an industry-leading specialty insurer with extensive expertise in medical liability, products liability for medical technology and life sciences, and workers’ compensation insurance, announced today that on July 2, 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”) with respect to the pending acquisition of ProAssurance by The Doctors Company.

Nuclear Verdicts in Healthcare: How Social Inflation Impacts Physicians, Patients, and the Future of Medicine
Social inflation increases the price of healthcare. It ratchets up the costs of doing business for healthcare professionals and facilities, and fear of litigation inspires defensive medicine. Fortunately, through tort reform, states may be able to contain social inflation’s effects on healthcare costs.

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Positive for The Doctors Company and Subsidiaries
AM Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed The Doctors Company's financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of "a+”. The positive outlooks, FSR of A, and long-term ICR of “a+” have been affirmed for The Doctors Company, an Interinsurance Exchange, and its core subsidiaries, which collectively comprise The Doctors Company Insurance Group (TDC or TDC Group). 

Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Recognition of Wernicke Encephalopathy
Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is a syndrome commonly seen in patients with alcohol use disorder who do not take adequate thiamine. WE should be suspected in any patient with conditions that may lead to malnutrition in combination with any of the following symptoms: altered mental status ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, delirium, and hypotension. Considered a medical emergency, it must be reversed to prevent permanent deficits. This case illustrates a cascade of errors which led to permanent disability. Some practical interventions to quickly recognize and reverse the condition are offered following the case presentation, which will be helpful for gastroenterology/gastroenterologists, ophthalmology/ophthalmologists, and neurology/neurologists.

Mar 04, 2024
Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Our complimentary on-demand course provides strategies for establishing policies and protocols to address scope of practice for unlicensed staff.
From The Doctor’s Advocate