Medical malpractice lawsuits are extraordinarily common, and even the most conscientious physicians are statistically likely to face a claim at some point during their career. According to one large study, 75% of physicians in “low-risk specialties” and 99% of physicians in “high-risk specialties” had a malpractice claim filed against them by the time they reached age 65.¹ The good news is most malpractice suits do not result in payouts to plaintiffs. Anyone can file a lawsuit, whether their complaint has merit or not. Most suits do not go to trial, and in those that do, studies show that juries tend to favor doctors over plaintiffs.²

Still, being served with a suit is stressful. Even if you win the case, you may lose time, emotional well-being, legal expenses, and more.

Although there is no way to guarantee you will not face a malpractice claim during your career, there are ways to lower your risk. Preventing malpractice lawsuits for family physicians involves a multi-faceted approach centered on an understanding of malpractice criteria, excellent patient care, clear communication, and meticulous documentation.