A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 1% of doctors are responsible for nearly 33% of paid medical malpractice claims. The study also found that as the number of paid claims by a doctor increased, so does the likelihood that the physician will have future paid malpractice claims.
The authors of the study concluded: “Over a recent 10-year period, a small number of physicians with distinctive characteristics accounted for a disproportionately large number of paid malpractice claims.” What does this mean for patients and the general public? It means that patients should, at a minimum, do their homework on the medical professionals who treat them. An abstract of the study can be found here:
[Prevalence and Characteristics of Physicians Prone to Malpractice Claims](http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1506137)
While the research tools used by the authors of the New England Journal of Medicine study are off limits to the general public — specifically the National Practitioners Database — there are resources patients can use. In Washington patients can use the Washington State Department of Health’s credential check, which is available through its webpage. Using this tool, patients can check the status of a medical provider’s credentials, as well as review any public disciplinary actions. The Department of Health’s webpage can be found here:
[Provider Credential Search](http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProviderCredentialSearch)
In addition, patients can search the Washington Court’s webpage for lawsuits filed against medical providers or medical facilities. The Washington Court’s webpage can be found here:
[Washington Courts – Search for a Case](http://dw.courts.wa.gov/)
While searching the Washington Court’s webpage will not identify “paid” claims, it will find lawsuits filed against a provider or facility. While not ideal, and certainly not comparable to the National Practitioners Database, these are the best tools currently available to public in Washington State.
