More than half (59 percent) of physicians recently surveyed have been named in at least one malpractice suit during their career, according to the "Medscape Malpractice Report 2015: Why Most Doctors Get Sued."
Of those who have been named in a lawsuit, 47 percent were one of several physicians or professionals named and 12 percent were the only parties sued.
Although no physicians are immune to the risk of a malpractice suit, some physician specialties are sued more often the others. According to the survey results, the specialties sued most often are:
- OB-GYN and women's health — 85 percent of these specialists surveyed have been sued
- Surgery — 83 percent
- Orthopedics — 79 percent
- Radiology — 72 percent
- Anesthesiology — 58 percent
- Internal medicine/family medicine — 46 percent
- Oncology — 34 percent
Orthopedists, general surgeons and OB-GYNs have the highest percentages among specialties of being the only parties named in a malpractice suit — with 26 percent, 23 percent and 18 percent, respectively.
The Medscape survey was conducted from Sept. 21 to Nov. 3, and includes responses from nearly 4,000 U.S. physicians.
More articles on legal issues and malpractice:
Study: More costly care linked with fewer malpractice claims
Opinion: Physicians, hospitals must do a better job of policing themselves
Male physicians more likely targets of legal action, study finds