The impact of malpractice liability claims on obstetrical practice patterns.

Health Services Research
Gilbert W Gimm

Abstract

This paper examines whether malpractice claims have any impact on obstetrical practice patterns (C-section rates) and physician delivery volume. Secondary data from the 1992-2000 Florida Hospital Inpatient Discharge File, the Florida Medical Professional Liability Insurance Claims File, and the American Medical Association's Master File on physician characteristics. The effects of malpractice claims on C-section rates and physician delivery volume were estimated using panel data and a fixed-effects multivariate model. Variables were constructed from each data source and merged into a single panel dataset using consistent physician identifiers. Principal Findings. I did not find evidence that physicians changed their practice patterns by increasing C-section rates in response to malpractice claims. However, physicians performed six fewer inpatient deliveries 3 years after the closing of a malpractice claim, after controlling for individual- and market-level characteristics. Physicians with high malpractice awards of U.S.$250,000 or more performed 14 fewer deliveries on average. Malpractice claims led to a small reduction in physician delivery volume, but they did not have a significant impact on C-section rates.

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Citations

Nov 12, 2013·Journal of the American College of Surgeons·Christina A MinamiKarl Y Bilimoria
Jan 2, 2013·Chest·David A Hyman, Charles Silver
Aug 24, 2016·Health Services Research·William RileyStanley Davis
Dec 12, 2017·Health Services Research·Christine Piette Durrance, Scott Hankins

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