An Examination of Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Physician Trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical malpractice
• Physician training
• Patient safety

Background:

• Medical malpractice claims involving physician trainees present unique challenges in patient care.
• Understanding the factors contributing to these claims is crucial for improving training and reducing harm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patient, provider, and claim-related factors associated with medical malpractice claims involving physician trainees in harm events.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study analyzed medical malpractice claims closed between 2012-2016 from teaching hospitals.
• Claims were classified as cases (trainee involved in harm) or controls (trainee not involved).
• Multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of trainee involvement in harm events.

Main Results:

• Of 30,973 claims, 581 were cases involving trainees, primarily residents (81%).
• Inadequate supervision contributed to 24% of cases, often during procedures.
• Trainees were more likely to be involved in harm events in oral surgery/dentistry and obstetrics-gynecology, during procedures, and in emergency rooms.

Conclusions:

• Procedures are frequently implicated in malpractice claims involving physician trainees, with inadequate supervision being a key factor.
• Findings can inform training directors in surgical specialties to enhance resident supervision and reduce patient harm.
• Targeted interventions in high-risk specialties and settings may improve patient safety.