Beiqun Zhao1, Luis C Cajas-Monson2, Sonia Ramamoorthy2. 1. Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive, #7220, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA. Electronic address: bez013@ucsd.edu. 2. Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive, #7220, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical malpractice is a source of stress and cost to physicians. Little is known about how it impacts resident physicians. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Comparative Benchmarking System between 2007 and 2016. We also surveyed surgery residents at our institution regarding malpractice in training. RESULTS: 4% of cases identified a resident physician and 32% involved a surgical specialty. Common allegations were "improper performance of surgery" and "improper management of surgical patient". 1 case attributed supervision as the major allegation but supervision was a contributing factor in 26% of cases. 18% of cases named a resident as a defendant. Most residents correctly answered that they can be defendants, agreed that a medico-legal curriculum is at least "moderately important", but had "poor" to "terrible" malpractice knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of medical malpractice claims involve resident physicians as a responsible party. Though universally recognized as important, medico-legal training in surgical residency is often lacking.
BACKGROUND: Medical malpractice is a source of stress and cost to physicians. Little is known about how it impacts resident physicians. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Comparative Benchmarking System between 2007 and 2016. We also surveyed surgery residents at our institution regarding malpractice in training. RESULTS: 4% of cases identified a resident physician and 32% involved a surgical specialty. Common allegations were "improper performance of surgery" and "improper management of surgical patient". 1 case attributed supervision as the major allegation but supervision was a contributing factor in 26% of cases. 18% of cases named a resident as a defendant. Most residents correctly answered that they can be defendants, agreed that a medico-legal curriculum is at least "moderately important", but had "poor" to "terrible" malpractice knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of medical malpractice claims involve resident physicians as a responsible party. Though universally recognized as important, medico-legal training in surgical residency is often lacking.
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