Latest Medical Professional Liability Headlines

All the headlines from our Medical Professional Liability Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Some Fear Nevada Court May End Malpractice Limits

Aug 4 2010 // Some Nevada doctors say they’re worried a state court could overturn a law limiting the amount of damages paid out in medical malpractice cases.The Nevada Supreme Court is being asked to consider a 2008 lawsuit...

Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Physicians in Med Mal Trust Fund Fight

Aug 2 2010 // The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s taking of $200 million from the Wisconsin’s Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF) to help balance the general budget was...

Thai Doctors Protest Proposed Malpractice Liability Law

Jul 30 2010 // Across Thailand many doctors traded their white coats for black on Thursday to protest a draft law that would give victims of medical malpractice legal rights to win compensation.The law would be the first of its kind in...

Wis. Supreme Court Sides with Physicians in Med Mal Trust Fund Fight

Jul 21 2010 // The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided that the state’s taking of $200 million from the Wisconsin’s Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF) to help balance the general budget was...

Wash. Court Dumps Notice for Malpractice Lawsuits

Jul 19 2010 // The Washington state Supreme Court said it is unconstitutional to require 90 days notice before suing a doctor, marking the second time in less than a year the court has rejected a legislative attempt to reform medical...

How New Exchange of Healthcare Data Might Reduce Tort Costs

Jul 19 2010 // Tort reform, which has been a longstanding and slow-moving political juggernaut, needs to sprout a necessary and useful set of wings. A “perfect storm” between today’s data technology, an existing...

High Court Backs Reno Hospital in Malpractice Case

Jul 9 2010 // The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that hospitals are not strictly liable for malpractice committed in emergency rooms by independent contracting physicians.In a 4-3 decision, the high court overturned Washoe County...

Health Records Firms Face Increasing Privacy Liability

Jul 9 2010 // U.S. companies that partner with hospitals and other health providers could face steep fines if they disclose private patient information under a new federal rule proposed Thursday.Billing companies, customer service...

Wash. Court Dumps Notice for Malpractice Lawsuits

Jul 8 2010 // The Washington state Supreme Court said it’s unconstitutional to require 90 days notice before suing a doctor, marking the second time in less than a year the court has rejected a legislative attempt to reform...

New York Approves Medical Malpractice Insurance Rate Hike

Jul 7 2010 // The average medical malpractice insurance rate increase for New York doctors this year will be five percent. The increase, which took effect July 1, follows two years of rates freezes.New York State Insurance...

Judge’s Approach to Curbing Malpractice Suits Gets $3 Million

Jun 22 2010 // To settle medical malpractice lawsuits, Judge Douglas McKeon sometimes quietly listens to heartbroken family members vent their anger. He calls it “humanness.”Curiosity about medical matters led the longtime...

Rush to Electronic Health Records Could Increase Liability Risk

Jun 22 2010 // Although the benefits of bringing information technology to health records can be substantial, electronic health records (EHR) systems also give rise to increased liability risks for health care providers due to possible...

Louisiana Legislature: No Malpractice Coverage for Elective Abortions

Jun 22 2010 // Doctors shouldn’t be covered under medical malpractice laws when they are providing elective abortions, the Louisiana Legislature has decided. The Senate gave final passage with a 31-2 vote to the bill by Rep. Robert...

Florida Approves MedMal Direct for Sale of Malpractice Insurance

Jun 22 2010 // Jacksonville-based MedMal Direct Insurance Co. has officially launched operations as a medical malpractice insurance company in Florida.The company, which sells insurance directly to physicians community without the use of...

Worldwide Facilities Names Sawyer VP/Broker for Healthcare Practice

Jun 18 2010 // Worldwide Facilities Inc. in Phoenix has named Eric Sawyer a vice president and broker for the healthcare practice group. Sawyer brings more than 10 years of medical malpractice experience to the group. He will be working...

Texas Work Comp Enforcements Include Suspensions, Insurer Fines

Jun 16 2010 // Final disciplinary actions taken in March and April by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) include removal of providers from Designated Doctors list and insurance company...

Physhield Insurance Exchange Approved by the State of Maryland

Jun 14 2010 // Physicians Healthcare Management Group, Inc.’s exclusive affiliate, Physhield Insurance Exchange, a Risk Retention Group, has received approval from the state of Maryland Insurance Administration to underwrite...

Michigan Court: Wrong Address Not a Barrier to Filing Malpractice Lawsuit

May 27 2010 // The Michigan Supreme Court says the wrong address is not a reason to stop a woman from filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against her former eye doctor. The court’s 4-3 decision this week reinstated a lawsuit...

Ironhealth Introduces Specialty Liability Program for Physician Groups

May 24 2010 // IronHealth, the specialty healthcare division of Ironshore Inc., has introduced a Physician Group Practice liability product, offering coverage for groups of 10 or more physicians,including the entity and its ancillary...

California Nonprofit Execs Accused of Exposing Teens to Health Risks

May 24 2010 // Three executives of a now-defunct California nonprofit that provided job training for young people knowingly placed dozens of teenagers in jobs that exposed them to asbestos, prosecutors say.The nonprofit Firm Build sent...