Medical Malpractice Claims Hit New Low in Ohio

Medical malpractice claims in Ohio hit a new low in 2012, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance’s Ohio Medical Professional Liability Closed Claim Report. There were 2,733 claims in 2012, the last year for which data is available. A total of $177.3 million was paid to 576 claimants, an average of $307,852 each.

Nearly four out of five claims resulted in no malpractice payment. But in almost all cases, money was awarded for investigation and defense costs, averaging $29,691 per case, the report said.

Claims against surgeons, general practice physicians and other medical personnel have declined since tort reform laws adopted in 2003, capped non-economic damages, commonly known as “pain and suffering” awards, at $500,000 per occurrence.

Statistics showed that more than half of the claims came from 14 counties in northeastern Ohio, accounting for $111.1 million of the $177.3 million awarded.

Non-obstetrical medical care, such as failure to treat or delayed or improper treatment, generated the largest number of claims – 780. Obstetrics claims had the highest payments, averaging more than $1.1 million.