Effects of tort reforms on the value of closed medical malpractice claims: a microanalysis

Tort reforms enacted by state legislatures mainly seek to reduce the rate of increase in medical malpractice insurance premiums and other costs of the professional liability system, such as "defensive medicine." We examine the effects tort reforms enacted during the 1970s have had on the probability that a claim will be paid, the amount of payment, and the speed with which the claim is resolved. Claims frequency is not used as a variable in this analysis, but findings from other studies pertaining to frequency are noted. This study uses two closed claims databases--one from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and one from the U.S. General Accounting Office. We merged the two data sets for purposes of this analysis. The observational unit was the individual claim. Data on tort reforms came from our own analysis of statutory changes by state. Dollar ceilings on recoveries ("caps") are shown to be the strongest reforms in terms of their impact on paid claim size. Most caps limit recovery for noneconomic loss, though some limit dollar awards. Other reforms that reduced payments per claim were costs awardable provisions and mandatory collateral offsets.     

论医疗事故及医疗事故技术鉴定结论的性质

医疗事故纠纷成为近年来的热点问题。要很好的处理医疗纠纷，制订出切实、可行的法规，必须明确医疗事故的法律性质和医疗事故技术鉴定委员会做出的鉴定结论的性质。笔者认为，造成医疗事故的不当医疗行为符合侵权行为的构成要件,因此，应是侵权行为。相应的，医疗机构对病员应予赔偿，而非补偿。目前的医疗事故鉴定体制存在着很多弊端。对于鉴定结论的性质，笔者认为，从证据规则的原理和民事诉讼法、行政诉讼法的规定看，它应是卫生行政机关和法院处理医疗纠纷的证据，而非依据。卫生行政机关和法院可审查其证明力，决定是否适用。这样才有利于做出正确裁判。此外,还应采取有力措施保障病员及其家属的知情权。     

论医疗事故及医疗事故技术鉴定结论的性质

医疗事故纠纷成为近年来的热点问题。要很好的处理医疗纠纷 ,制订出切实、可行的法规 ,必须明确医疗事故的法律性质和医疗事故技术鉴定委员会做出的鉴定结论的性质。笔者认为 ,造成医疗事故的不当医疗行为符合侵权行为的构成要件 ,因此 ,应是侵权行为。相应的 ,医疗机构对病员应予赔偿 ,而非补偿。目前的医疗事故鉴定体制存在着很多弊端。对于鉴定结论的性质 ,笔者认为 ,从证据规则的原理和民事诉讼法、行政诉讼法的规定看 ,它应是卫生行政机关和法院处理医疗纠纷的证据 ,而非依据。卫生行政机关和法院可审查其证明力 ,决定是否适用。这样才有利于做出正确裁判。此外 ,还应采取有力措施保障病员及其家属的知情权。     

论医疗技术规范在认定医疗过失中的作用

医疗过失是医疗事故和医疗侵权认定的重要要件,这可以从分析《医疗事故处理条例》中的相关内容得出结论。《医疗事故处理条例》第2条规定:本条例所称医疗事故,是指医疗机构及其医务人员在医疗活动中,违反医疗卫生管理法律、行政法规、部门规章和诊疗护理规范、常规,过失造成患者人身损害的事故。     

论医疗技术规范在认定医疗过失中的作用

一、医疗过失与医疗技术规范 （一）医疗过失 医疗过失是医疗事故和医疗侵权认定的重要要件,这可以从分析《医疗事故处理条例》中的相关内容得出结论.《医疗事故处理条例》第2条规定：本条例所称医疗事故,是指医疗机构及其医务人员在医疗活动中,违反医疗卫生管理法律、行政法规、部门规章和诊疗护理规范、常规,过失造成患者人身损害的事故.     

Controlling large malpractice claims: the unexpected impact of damage caps.

Indiana's comprehensive malpractice reforms, inaugurated in 1975, include a cap on damages, a mandated medical review before trial, and a state insurance fund to pay claims equal to or greater than $100,000. We have found that the amount of compensation going to claimants with such large malpractice claims in Indiana is, on average, substantially higher than in Michigan and Ohio. Indiana's mean claim severity between 1977 and 1988 was $404,832, while the means for Michigan and Ohio were $290,022 and $303,220, respectively, with the difference between these three means being highly significant. Although data on claim and claimant characteristics reveal considerable interstate variation, the results of regression analyses show that Indiana claim payment amounts are higher than Michigan or Ohio payments, independent of the effect of factors such as sex, age, severity of injury, allegations of negligence, and year of settlement.     

Intentional torts claims in medical cases

Civil liability legislation enacted in each Australian jurisdiction following the Ipp Report recommendations created a clear divide between "negligence" and "intentional" torts. The common law action for trespass to the person is to varying extents maintained in the approaches taken by the State and Territory legislatures. This article explores the potential application of intentional torts claims in a medical context in light of recent case law. It identifies advantages for plaintiffs who plead intentional tort claims, including onus of proof, causation, remoteness, the quantum of compensatory damages and the availability of aggravated and exemplary damages.     

外伤后诊疗失误医疗纠纷分析

通过对5例外伤后医疗纠纷案件的回顾性分析,探讨了此类医疗纠纷的特点和医疗失误的成因。通过外伤和医疗失误在患者死亡后果中责任程度分析,提出了“死因竞合”和“参与度”的判定原则。并且认为,在涉讼的此类医疗纠纷案件的技术鉴定中,如将对死者进行全面尸体解剖和病理学检验以明确患者死亡的原因作为必要的前置程序．则对于此类案件的科学鉴定具有非常重要的意义。     

医疗纠纷中篡改病历相关法律责任研究

病历是医院最常见的文书之一。在法律上，病历也充当着重要的证据作用。在医疗纠纷中．病历是一把双刃剑，高质量的病历可以是医务人员的保护伞，反之则会是其最大的敌人。但是在医务人员在医疗纠纷中篡改病历的现象并不少见。关于篡改的病历的证据作用以及对相关人员的处理，国内外学者存在着不同的认识。     

The structure of medical malpractice decision-making in Japan

The article summarises the problems in the medical malpractice litigation systems in the United Kingdom and Japan, demonstrating the similarities and identifying the length of time between initiating an action and its decision and other factors responsible for lengthy litigation. Based on analysis of decisions of medical malpractice cases between 1986 and 1998 in Japan, the functioning of the Japanese medical malpractice litigation system is discussed. Lengthy litigation is shown to be correlated with outcome and implies that the Japanese medical dispute resolution mechanism favours those who can endure lengthy litigation, namely the defendants, who are physicians or hospitals. In view of the similarities between the two systems, it is likely that the same bias--that the wealthier party in the litigation is more likely to win the case--also occurs in medical malpractice litigation in the United Kingdom and Australia.     

论法学专家参加医疗事故鉴定过程的必要性

医疗事故鉴定在处理医疗纠纷的民事赔偿和行政处理以涉及医药卫生的刑事犯罪中具有重要地位和作用。医疗事故鉴定是涉及医学的法律问题，现行医疗事故争议完全由医学专家鉴定具有不公平性和合理性．应当由医学专家和法学专家共同鉴定。