Which kind of doctor gets sued the most?

Doctors in surgical specialties, particularly Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) and General Surgery, are sued most frequently due to high-stakes procedures and inherent risks, followed by Orthopedic Surgery, while specialties like Psychiatry and Dermatology face lower risks. High-risk fields involve complex interventions, potential for severe complications, and life-altering outcomes, leading to greater litigation exposure.

What doctors are sued the most?

Below are three medical specialties that frequently see malpractice claims and the reasons why:

• Surgery. Surgery is one of the riskiest medical fields for both patients and doctors. ...
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) ...
• Anesthesiology.

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 type of doctor has the highest malpractice insurance?

Surgical specialties with the highest-risk profiles pay the highest malpractice premiums. These specialties include neurosurgeons, OBGYNs, general surgeons, bariatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons.

Why are OBGYNs most sued?

To be more specific, these are some of the most common reasons why American obstetricians and gynecologists get sued for medical malpractice: Maternal and/or fetal death during pregnancy and/or childbirth. Failed tubal ligations.

What Doctors Get Sued the Most for Medical Malpractice?

Which doctor is least likely to be sued?

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

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

How often do you get sued as a doctor?

About one-third of U.S. physicians (around 31-34%) report being sued at least once in their career, with the risk increasing significantly with age and specialty, especially in high-risk fields like surgery, but most claims don't result in a finding of negligence. The likelihood of facing a claim varies dramatically by specialty, with OB/GYNs, surgeons, and orthopedists having much higher rates, while low-risk specialties like psychiatry have fewer claims. 

What is the most famous case of medical negligence?

The Largest Medical Malpractice Settlements in U.S. History

Considered one of the largest settlements in recent history, a Florida jury awarded Allan Navarro $216.7 million ($100.1 million in punitive damages) after he was left brain-damaged and confined to a wheelchair after doctors misdiagnosed stroke symptoms.

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.

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. 

Has every doctor been sued?

Unfortunately, being sued for medical malpractice is a very real possibility, according to a 2022 American Medical Association (AMA) analysis. In fact, the findings show that about 30% of US physicians have been sued for medical malpractice. And the longer you're in practice, the higher the risk.

Do most surgeons get sued?

Among the various specialties, surgery remains among the highest risk for malpractice litigation, at an average of 10.6 defendants per 100 surgeons.

What percent of ER doctors get sued?

Approximately 75% of emergency physicians will be named in a malpractice suit during their career and the average time to resolution is 16.7 months per claim.

How hard is it to sue a doctor for malpractice?

Winning a medical malpractice case against a doctor is difficult. According to an NCBI study, doctors consistently win 50% of the medical malpractice cases that physician reviewers have concluded they should lose. Doctors also win 70% to 80% of medical malpractice cases with ambiguous or unclear evidence of negligence.

Which health insurance company has the most complaints?

There isn't one single company with the most complaints across all types of insurance, but UnitedHealth and Anthem (Elevance Health) frequently appear for health insurance issues like claim denials and low provider reimbursement, while Allstate, Farmers, and Progressive often face complaints for property/auto claims handling (delays, low settlements). The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints, and state insurance departments (like NY) publish guides, showing AvMed and United Healthcare had high claim denial rates, and insurers like American Banker (Assurant) and Infinity (Kemper) scored poorly in complaint indices for P&C. 

What is the #1 insurance in America?

The #1 insurance company in the U.S. depends on the type of insurance, but UnitedHealth Group leads in overall health insurance by market share and revenue, while State Farm is the largest in property & casualty (P&C) and auto insurance. Other major players include Elevance Health (health) and Berkshire Hathaway (P&C), with rankings varying slightly by source and year. 

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 most sued doctor?

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.

What's the average payout for medical negligence?

There's no single "average," but figures often cite around $330,000–$350,000, though settlements vary wildly, from a few thousand for minor issues to over $1 million for catastrophic injuries like brain damage or wrongful death, with severity, economic losses, and state laws being key factors. Major factors include the extent of the injury (e.g., temporary vs. permanent), specific medical error (e.g., anesthesia vs. surgical), state caps, and the strength of the evidence.
 

What is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

How rich is the average doctor?

About 60% of physicians reported a net worth of $1 million in 2024, up just 1% from 2023. Even with medical school loans taken into account, six in 10 physicians have a net worth that exceeds that of the average American family.