BACKGROUND: Despite rising medical malpractice costs, little is known about the factors associated with claims filed against Mohs surgeons. OBJECTIVE: We sought to define the scope of medical malpractice claims filed against Mohs surgeons and to identify salient factors associated with the filing and disposition of those claims. METHODS: A comprehensive survey was mailed to 599 physicians with US addresses listed in the 2003 directory of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. RESULTS: Of the 300 completed surveys returned, 33 (11%) reported ever having been sued. Physicians who practiced Mohs surgery for a longer period of time were more likely to have been sued for malpractice. Physicians reported the wrong site and functional outcome as the most frequent causes of malpractice lawsuits.
BACKGROUND: Despite rising medical malpractice costs, little is known about the factors associated with claims filed against Mohs surgeons. OBJECTIVE: We sought to define the scope of medical malpractice claims filed against Mohs surgeons and to identify salient factors associated with the filing and disposition of those claims. METHODS: A comprehensive survey was mailed to 599 physicians with US addresses listed in the 2003 directory of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. RESULTS: Of the 300 completed surveys returned, 33 (11%) reported ever having been sued. Physicians who practiced Mohs surgery for a longer period of time were more likely to have been sued for malpractice. Physicians reported the wrong site and functional outcome as the most frequent causes of malpractice lawsuits.
Authors: Allen G Strickler; Payal Shah; Shirin Bajaj; Richard Mizuguchi; Rajiv I Nijhawan; Mercy Odueyungbo; Anthony Rossi; Désirée Ratner Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2021-01-23 Impact factor: 15.487