Page 10 - Diagnostic Radiology - Interpreting the Risks Part One

SVMIC Diagnostic Radiology: Interpreting the Risks

Because the variety and extent of clinical procedures by

interventionalists are too numerous for this two-hour course,
the risks associated with those specific procedures will not be

discussed.

Radiology Risk: By the Numbers

The Medical Professional Liability Association (MPL), formerly
the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA), reviewed

reported malpractice claims and lawsuit data between the
years 1991 and 2015 as part of its Specialty Specific Series —

Radiology, published in 2016. Data was collected through the
1
Data Sharing Project, comprised of 20 participating member

medical malpractice insurers, and was limited to only physician
claims. The data was used to quantify the proportion of closed

claims that resulted in indemnity payments (specifying average,
median, and largest payment amounts) and average defense

expenses. What did the data show?

A total of 6,526 claims (which included lawsuits and/or

demands for payment where no lawsuit was filed) were closed
between 2006 and 2015. Of these, 28 percent resulted in an

average indemnity payment of $364,106 which was the sixth
highest average indemnity payment among all of the healthcare

specialties.

The largest payment reported for a radiology claim was $3.3
million. For reference, the largest OB/GYN surgery payment

reported was $13 million.

1 PIAA Specialty Specific Series — Radiology, 2016 Edition/January 1, 2006, - December 31, 2015.

Page 10