Objectives: To obtain data regarding the frequency of malpractice suits against urologists.
Methods: Those urologists listed in the Best Doctors in America were sent an anonymous survey that requested their personal malpractice history (group A). Additionally, the professional responsibility history of the candidates for recertification by the American Board of Urology in 1996 (group B) was reviewed.
Results: One hundred ten urologists in the United States in group A were surveyed. Ninety-one (83%) responded. Seventy (77%) had been sued (average 2.36 claims per physician who had been sued). Forty-four percent of the claims resulted in payment to the plaintiff. Claims frequency of group A was 0.09 claims per physician per year. Urologists in the Northeast, North Central, and Mid-Atlantic Sections of the American Urological Association were less likely to be sued than urologists in the other five sections. There were 246 urologists in group B. One hundred twenty-two (49%) reported a claim against them (average 1.9 claims per physician who had been sued). Twenty-nine percent of the closed claims resulted in payment to the plaintiff. Claims frequency of group B was 0.09 claims per physician per year.
Conclusions: Most urologists can expect to be sued at least twice in their professional careers. The longer one is in practice, the greater the chance of a suit being filed. Where one practices may be a factor in the likelihood of being sued. There does not seem to be a direct or inverse correlation between professional reputation and the incidence of being sued.