Malpractice issues in neurological surgery

Surgical Neurology
Charles A Fager

Abstract

Malpractice litigation continues to be a serious problem in neurosurgery despite many suggestions to contain liability, including proposed federal legislation. A current study of 275 malpractice claims has been compared with a prior study of 300 cases of liability and potential liability reported in 1985. Twenty years later, the results are surprisingly similar. Spinal surgery continues to dominate neurosurgical malpractice claims with 42% of the total, most from lumbar spine operations. As in the previous study, trauma and intracranial surgery account for the next largest groups. Of particular significance in terms of improved diagnostic methodology were spinal operations at the wrong level as well as failure to diagnose sentinel bleeds, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformation, and other cerebral lesions. Although many cases believed defensible were settled often because of significant neurological deficit, a number were dropped or dismissed after review, reports, or depositions, and defense verdicts were achieved in a similar number that went to trial. Most plaintiff claims that had merit were settled. Although hope continues for tort reform, uniform capitation of noneconomic awards, and contingency fees, it should be noted tha...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1985·Neurosurgery·C A Fager
Jan 16, 2004·The New England Journal of Medicine·David M StuddertTroyen A Brennan
Mar 20, 2004·Surgical Neurology·Robert Goodkin, Lewis L Laska
Nov 30, 2006·Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing·Judith Hunter Fager, Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 28, 2014·Neurosurgery·Christopher L Taylor
Jun 3, 2010·Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine·Claudio Irace, Claudio Corona
Oct 22, 2014·British Journal of Neurosurgery·Alhafidz HamdanIan C Coulter
Oct 30, 2012·World Neurosurgery·Mohammed F Shamji, R John Hurlbert
Sep 1, 2009·The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society·Michael P SteinmetzMichael Modic
Dec 18, 2007·The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society·Adrian NowitzkeKen Cooney
Jul 22, 2017·Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine·Alan H DanielsMark A Palumbo
Jan 17, 2008·Spine·Milan G ModyKim J Garges
Dec 4, 2009·Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques·Harshpal SinghArthur L Jenkins
Sep 26, 2014·Neurosurgery·Timothy R SmithRobert F Heary
Mar 11, 2014·JBJS Reviews·Bennett D GrimmBruce V Darden
May 2, 2017·Veterinary Surgery : VS·Andrew R E JonesCoryelle Scott
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·P R MiddletonA Humphrey
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·J Granville-Chapman, D S Elliott
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·A Cheung
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·R L StoreyA M Smith
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·E R MacDonaldR G Molloy
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·C WeddellA K Hamad
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·G EllisS Graham
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·S GoudieR Siddiqi
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·J Krysa, P R Taylor
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·H A Kazi, T G Thomas
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·R P WalterJ R Davis
Sep 5, 2012·Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England·V AsopaR Shetty
May 28, 2019·Journal of Neurosurgery·Jack J HaslettChristopher P Kellner
May 3, 2013·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·David A IbrahimDavid L Skaggs
Jan 21, 2017·Clinical Spine Surgery : a Spine Publication·Kingsley R ChinVanessa Cumming
Aug 9, 2020·Global Spine Journal·Keith L JacksonJohn DeVine

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Aneurysm

Aneurysms are outward distensions or bulges that occurs in a weakened wall of blood vessels. Discover the latest research on aneurysms here.