Childbirth cases have highest average medmal awards

October 1, 2006

The Jury Verdict Research's annual trends report found that the median jury award in medical malpractice cases increased just 4.5% to $1.045 million in 2004, continuing a trend of average awards around $1 million since 2002. But for those health-care professionals whose practice includes obstetrics, the news is less favorable: Among all types of medmal verdicts, the highest awards were for negligence in childbirth cases. These cases had a median award of $2.5 million in 2004-up from $2.3 million in 2003, reported Medical Liability Monitor (06/2006). Moreover, plaintiffs won 52% of childbirth negligence cases, while just 25% of plaintiffs won in cases involving diagnosis negligence.

The Jury Verdict Research's annual trends report found that the median jury award in medical malpractice cases increased just 4.5% to $1.045 million in 2004, continuing a trend of average awards around $1 million since 2002. But for those health-care professionals whose practice includes obstetrics, the news is less favorable: Among all types of medmal verdicts, the highest awards were for negligence in childbirth cases. These cases had a median award of $2.5 million in 2004-up from $2.3 million in 2003, reported Medical Liability Monitor (06/2006). Moreover, plaintiffs won 52% of childbirth negligence cases, while just 25% of plaintiffs won in cases involving diagnosis negligence.