Medical Malpractice Trends Amongst Plastic Surgeons in Virginia
Poster #: 020
Session/Time: A
Author:
Madison Baldauf, BS
Mentor:
Yifan Guo, MD
Research Type: Educational
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Prior studies have suggested that the most common reasons for litigation against plastic surgeons involve dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcomes, postoperative complications, and lack of informed consent. The aim of this project is to explore the medical malpractice claims made against plastic surgeons in Virginia to determine which occur most frequently.
METHODS:
Using the Virginia Board of Medicine's website, we identified all plastic surgeons in Virginia. This website allowed us to obtain all of the desired information including name, license number, city of practice, public versus private hospital, years in practice, board certifications, medical malpractice charges and outcomes, and paid claims information. The boundaries for this study include charges or claims from Jan 01 2010 to Dec 31 2024.
RESULTS:
Of the 291 plastic surgeons identified on the Virginia Board of Medicine's website, 25 (8.6%) had reported convictions or paid claims. Of these 25 physicians, 11 (44.0%) had records of paid claims only, 7 (28.0%) reported 1 or more convictions without any paid claims, and 7 (28.0%) had history of both actions on their records. Of the 14 physicians who have a report of malpractice conviction, 11 had only 1 charge, 2 had 2 charges, and 1 had 3 charges for a total of 18 convictions in the state of Virginia during this time period. The breakdown of the 18 charges are depicted in the Figure below, displaying drug related charges as the most frequent. There was no correlation between location of practice (i.e. rural vs city) and incidence of a conviction or claim, however 93% (n=27) occurred at a private practice.
CONCLUSION:
Though the overall number of plastic surgeons charged with medical malpractice in Virginia is quite low, the most common charge is related to proper handling and prescribing of drugs. This point should incline plastic surgeons to take extra precaution to avoid a potential malpractice charges, especially if operating at a private practice. Going forward, we will obtain this data from other states to compare trends with Virginia. This information will allow plastic surgeons to develop strategies to mitigate risk and better understand patient values. Future study will replicate this project for other fields of practice and allow us to compare and contrast frequent malpractice charges amongst physicians in different specialties.
Prior studies have suggested that the most common reasons for litigation against plastic surgeons involve dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcomes, postoperative complications, and lack of informed consent. The aim of this project is to explore the medical malpractice claims made against plastic surgeons in Virginia to determine which occur most frequently.
METHODS:
Using the Virginia Board of Medicine's website, we identified all plastic surgeons in Virginia. This website allowed us to obtain all of the desired information including name, license number, city of practice, public versus private hospital, years in practice, board certifications, medical malpractice charges and outcomes, and paid claims information. The boundaries for this study include charges or claims from Jan 01 2010 to Dec 31 2024.
RESULTS:
Of the 291 plastic surgeons identified on the Virginia Board of Medicine's website, 25 (8.6%) had reported convictions or paid claims. Of these 25 physicians, 11 (44.0%) had records of paid claims only, 7 (28.0%) reported 1 or more convictions without any paid claims, and 7 (28.0%) had history of both actions on their records. Of the 14 physicians who have a report of malpractice conviction, 11 had only 1 charge, 2 had 2 charges, and 1 had 3 charges for a total of 18 convictions in the state of Virginia during this time period. The breakdown of the 18 charges are depicted in the Figure below, displaying drug related charges as the most frequent. There was no correlation between location of practice (i.e. rural vs city) and incidence of a conviction or claim, however 93% (n=27) occurred at a private practice.
CONCLUSION:
Though the overall number of plastic surgeons charged with medical malpractice in Virginia is quite low, the most common charge is related to proper handling and prescribing of drugs. This point should incline plastic surgeons to take extra precaution to avoid a potential malpractice charges, especially if operating at a private practice. Going forward, we will obtain this data from other states to compare trends with Virginia. This information will allow plastic surgeons to develop strategies to mitigate risk and better understand patient values. Future study will replicate this project for other fields of practice and allow us to compare and contrast frequent malpractice charges amongst physicians in different specialties.