Did you know that nearly 9 in 10 obstetricians and gynecologists have been sued for medical malpractice at least once in their lifetime? That means there is a 90-percent risk that the obstetrician or gynecologist currently treating you or providing you with medical care could have been previously sued for medical malpractice.
No, we are not saying this to discourage you from seeking medical care and avoid trips to obstetricians and gynecologists. We are saying this to make sure that you understand just how common medical errors on the part of obstetricians and gynecologists are in our country.
“As much as we would like to think that obstetricians and gynecologists never make mistakes, they do,” says our medical malpractice attorney at Licata & Yeremenko, A Professional Law Corporation. “In fact, medical malpractice lawsuits against obstetricians and gynecologists are more common than you think.”
And this is evident from a 2015 survey conducted by Medscape, which surveyed nearly 4,000 physicians, including obstetricians and gynecologists, to find out how many of them have been sued for medical malpractice by their patients.
Obstetricians And Gynecologists Sued For Medical Malpractice Most Frequently
There is a popular misconception that male obstetricians and gynecologists are better than female physicians in these specialties. But the survey suggests the opposite. The survey revealed that nearly 90 percent of male obstetricians and gynecologists have been sued, compared to 81 percent of female ob/gyms.
While the study indicates that the vast majority of physicians face at least one medical malpractice lawsuit throughout their career, obstetricians and gynecologists are more likely to be sued than other physicians. “In fact, according to the survey, ob/gyms and surgeons are sued for malpractice most frequently among all physicians,” concludes our experienced legal malpractice attorney.
Fact: The survey showed that 85 percent of ob/gyms and 83 percent of general surgeons have been sued at least once.
Common Reasons Why Obstetricians And Gynecologists Are Sued For Medical Malpractice
But what are the most common reasons why obstetricians and gynecologists get sued for medical malpractice in the United States? More than a third of the medical malpractice lawsuits against ob/gyms were based on allegations of suffering “an abnormal injury.”
Failure to diagnose and fail to treat were the second and third most common reason why ob/gyms were sued for malpractice, 22 and 15 percent, respectively. Five and fewer percent of the remaining lawsuits against ob/gyms were based on: poor documentation of patient instruction and education, improperly obtained informed consent or lack thereof, failure to follow safety procedures, as well as errors in the administration of medication.
To be more specific, these are some of the most common reasons why American obstetricians and gynecologists get sued for medical malpractice:
- Maternal and/or fetal death during pregnancy and/or childbirth
- Failed tubal ligations
- Timing and performance of cesarean sections (C-section)
- Bowel perforations
- Shoulder dystocia
Nearly Half Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists Think Medical Malpractice Lawyers Are ‘Annoying’
In their defense, the ob/gyms surveyed in the study said that plaintiff patients had failed to obtain required follow-up, medical advice, or referrals, or had chosen to proceed with procedures, childbirth, or pregnancy despite having been informed of risks.
Interestingly, the survey also found that the obstetricians and gynecologists who have been sued for medical malpractice have negative feelings about plaintiffs’ attorneys. More than a third of all ob/gyms surveyed (36 percent) said they “truly hate” medical malpractice lawyers.
But nearly half of all respondents were able to tame their anger, and admitted, “They [lawyers] annoy me, but when it comes down to it, I realize they are just working at a job.”
Negligent, careless, reckless, and incompetent obstetricians and gynecologists can hate us all they want, but our lawyers are working day and night to ensure that our clients, who have suffered an injury or were harmed by their physician’s failure to treat or failure to diagnose, can fight back and recover damages.
If you have been hurt by an obstetrician or gynecologist in California, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with our medical malpractice attorney at Licata & Yeremenko, A Professional Law Corporation.
More often than not, suing is the only option to seek compensation for the damages and losses incurred due to your physician’s negligent act or omission to act. Contact our law firm to speak about your particular situation. Call at 818-783-5757 today.