Professional liability: epidemiology and demography.

Because of increasing numbers of claims, professional liability for obstetrician-gynecologists carries an ever-increasing cost in dollars, emotions and time. The tort system in medicine is slow and inefficient in time and dollars going to injured patients compared to dollars supporting courts and lawyers. As a result of medical liability costs and a rising number of claims, patients are losing basic access to care, especially for pregnancy and are treated defensively when the receive care.