Complaints, grievances, and claims against physicians: does tort reform make a difference?

This study reviews data available from a mediation committee (MC) for a county medical society, the Texas Medical Board (TMB), and the Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) during the decade of Texas tort reform. It explores why some patients file formal complaints and grievances against their physicians. It also compares data from the TMB and TMLT to investigate how tort reform might influence their activities. Results show the majority of complaints or grievances mediated by the MC start with communication problems followed by allegations of inappropriate treatment, fees, medical records, and delays in diagnoses. Analysis of available data also suggests changes in liability rules may reduce liability claims while having little or no impact on mediated case trends or their triggers at least to one county medical society.