What medical specialty is least sued?

Allergy & Immunology, Hematology & Oncology, and Endocrinology & Diabetes consistently rank as medical specialties least likely to be sued for malpractice, with Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry also showing low rates, while high-risk areas often involve surgery or obstetrics. These low-risk specialties generally involve less invasive procedures and potentially different patient interactions compared to specialties like surgery or OB/GYN, which see much higher claim frequencies.

What specialties are least likely to be sued?

Family general practice, pediatrics, and psychiatry are the specialties that are least likely to be sued for medical malpractice.

Which doctor specialty gets sued the most?

Ultimately, as shown by the data, it's no surprise that surgeons are the most often sued professionals in the medical field with 90% of surgeon participants having been involved in a legal dispute regarding medical malpractice.

Which medical specialty has the least paperwork?

Anesthesiology is the specialty with the least administrative burden, with physicians spending an average of 9 hours per week on these tasks.

What doctor has the lowest malpractice insurance?

Pediatrics: Generally speaking, pediatric specialists pay lower premiums for medical malpractice insurance than a lot of other medical specialists.

Highest Paid Doctor Specialties in 2026 (💰New Leaders)

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

Who gets sued the most in healthcare?

According to a study conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA), OB/GYN providers have one of the highest rates of malpractice, with more than 62% of physicians being sued at some point throughout their career.

What is the least stressful doctor specialty?

Physicians must carefully consider factors like stress levels, burnout rates and work hours before making a decision. For those prioritizing work-life balance, specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, family medicine and psychiatry offer less stressful environments and lower rates of burnout.

What specialty has the most burnout?

The study found burnout varies across the medical field, with some specialties facing more severe challenges than others. Emergency medicine physicians experience the most intense burnout, with the highest emotional fatigue (68%) and depersonalization (55%).

What is the least desirable medical specialty?

With that in mind, the five least competitive medical specialties are:

• Family medicine.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
• Anesthesiology.
• Pediatrics.
• Psychiatry.

What is the hardest doctor specialty to get into?

List of specialties of the hardest doctor to become:

• Dermatology. ...
• Plastic Surgery. ...
• Neurosurgery. ...
• Orthopedics and Traumatology. ...
• Radiology. ...
• Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Urology.

What is the number one reason doctors get sued?

Failure to diagnose or a delay in diagnosis

This is the most common malpractice allegation made by patients. To prevent an incorrect or missed diagnosis, make sure you are diligent in following patients' complaints to a full diagnosis. Also, be familiar with the error rates of your diagnostic instruments.

What is the most underpaid medical specialty?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently include Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Endocrinology, and Infectious Diseases, often due to their primary care focus and lower volume of high-paying procedures, though exact rankings vary slightly by report. Subspecialties within Pediatrics, like endocrinology or infectious diseases, can also be among the lowest earners. 

How to avoid being sued as a doctor?

Keeping proper/legally valid medical records is a must and should include patient's complete name on each and every medical record. Record both the medical act performed or the advice given as well as the purpose/reason for that particular medical act/advice.

What is the easiest medical speciality to get into?

The "easiest" medical field depends on your definition, but Phlebotomy is often cited for the fastest entry (weeks/months for certification), while Medical Assisting, Medical Billing/Coding, and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) offer quick, stable paths with short programs (under a year). For roles requiring slightly more education but offering good work-life balance, Dental Hygienist is praised for its low stress and high pay with an Associate's degree. 

What is the 42% rule for burnout?

The 42% rule for burnout suggests your brain and body need about 42% of your time for rest and recovery (around 10 hours daily) to prevent chronic stress and burnout, a concept popularized by health scientist Emily Nagoski. This isn't just sleep but includes unstructured downtime, gentle movement, hobbies, quiet meals, and social connection, balancing the "work and kids and stuff" that often fill the other 14 hours, helping to avoid burnout caused by a failure to recover. 

Which type of doctor has the highest rate of depression?

Urology and Emergency Medicine often top lists for the highest depression rates among doctors, followed closely by Family Medicine, OB/GYN, and Neurology, according to recent studies from organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) and Medscape. These front-line, high-stress specialties, dealing with heavy workloads, administrative burdens, and demanding patient care, contribute to higher burnout and depression rates. 

What type of doctor gets the most time off?

In online forums, hospitalists, nocturnists and intensivists boast having some of the most free time. Even though most hospitalists work 84 hours a week doing 12-hour shifts for seven days straight, they have the next seven days off.

What are the happiest medical specialties?

Top 10 Happiest Medical Specialties

• Allergy and Immunology. Allergy & Immunology ranks #1 in physician-reported happiness, with 94% saying they feel happy and well-balanced. ...
• Pathology. ...
• Dermatology. ...
• Public Health & Preventive Medicine. ...
• Psychiatry. ...
• Ophthalmology. ...
• Otolaryngology (ENT) ...
• Orthopedics & Orthopedic Surgery.

What's the easiest thing in the medical field?

In no particular order, here is our list of the easiest allied health programs for 2026 with relevant explanations.

1. Radiation Therapist. Median Annual Salary: $98,300. ...
2. Dental Hygienist. Median Annual Salary: $87,530. ...
3. Ultrasound Technician. ...
4. Registered Nurse. ...
5. Physical Therapist Assistant. ...
6. Phlebotomy Technician.

What medical specialty has a good work-life balance?

Which medical specialties are known for the best work-life balance? Medical specialties that offer the best work-life balance typically include dermatology, pathology, psychiatry, and family medicine.

What doctors get sued the least?

The specialties at lowest risk of lawsuits include allergists and immunologists, with 7% of physicians being sued during their careers, and hematologists and oncologists, with 8% of physicians being sued during their careers.

Do all doctors get sued?

According to a Medscape survey, about 60% of respondents claimed they'd been sued at least once in their careers. And for doctors over age sixty, that 60% rose to 80%. In other words, by the time doctors reach retirement age, nearly all of them have been sued for malpractice at least once.

Has anyone ever sued the NHS?

Who pays when you sue the NHS? NHS Resolution was set up to pay for NHS negligence claims and in 2023-24 they spent £2.8 billion settling medical negligence claims when people sued the NHS.