September 11, 2025, KevinMD
Nuclear Verdicts and Rising Costs: How Inflation Is Reshaping Medical Malpractice Claims
Physicians today face mounting challenges in the practice of medicine, including declining reimbursement, workforce shortages, administrative burdens, and the ever-present risk of litigation. The Doctors Company’s latest study, “Nuclear Verdicts and Rising Costs: How Inflation Is Impacting Medical Malpractice Claims,” highlights another pressure point: the accelerating impact of inflation on medical malpractice claims.
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Community Investment
We are advocates for the health of the entire community—in and out of the clinical setting.
Harvard Study Continues to Distort Healthcare Quality Debate
The Harvard Medical Practice Study is often cited in discussions of healthcare quality and medical malpractice reform. Missing from this discussion is any mention of the critical flaws of the study, which not only render the data of virtually no use for public policy debate, but which also fail to support the authors’ conclusions about the medical-legal system.
Effective Obstetrical Team Communication
Effective communication requires a team effort for the exchange of concise and relevant information.
Government Relations Advocacy Updates
Each issue of the Government Relations Advocacy Update provides insights into legislative and judicial actions that impact medical liability and the practice of medicine. We are committed to providing an enduring national platform for advocacy for healthcare.
About The Doctors Company
As the nation’s largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, The Doctors Company has always been guided by our mission: To advance, protect, and reward the practice of good medicine.
Jun 18, 2024
Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Issues in Healthcare and Insurance Public Policy
As AI becomes more integrated into healthcare, matters relating to professional liability remain unsettled.
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The Doctor’s Advocate
Professional Education
Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Unlicensed staff are vital to efficient patient flow in medical practice. Healthcare organizations have many tasks that are safely and effectively carried out by skilled unlicensed support staff every day. To reach such efficiencies with safety and reliability, careful attention must be given to scope of practice and state and local statutes regarding delegation and supervision. Policies and protocols that outline the scope of practice for unlicensed staff to follow independently, and when they must consult with licensed staff, help even the most talented of your staff understand their boundaries. This case illustrates how informal verbal guidelines can blur the lines and cause well-meaning staff to cross the boundary lines of their scope leading to misdiagnosis and death.
Informed Consent: Substance and Signature
True informed consent is a process of managing a patient’s expectations through shared decision making. It is not just a signature on a document.
Healthcare Staffing Shortages: Decrease Practice Risks
Ongoing staffing shortages negatively influence the quality and depth of many primary and support roles throughout the healthcare workforce. The scarcity of employees has also contributed to elevated levels of stress and burnout.
