just wondering if anyone knows of the tort reform and malpractice climate between practing in North Carolina vs South Carolina. Or where to find more info?
NC vs SC tort reform
- Thread starter Brioche
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The Medical Malpractice Rundown: A State-by-State Report Card - Emergency Physicians Monthly
Granted its 4 years old so bear that in mind.
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This gives SC a good ranking.
https://www.aaem.org/UserFiles/SepOct14MedicalLiability.pdf
This rates both states around $5-$6 per capita in malpractice cost for MDs. Both middle of the pack, with slight edge to NC, by that measure.
http://truecostofhealthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Malpractice-Rankings.pdf
This one also gives NC an edge
A state-by-state breakdown of medical malpractice suits
It's hard to find a clear-cut, direct state to state comparison, but my impression over the years has been that both N and S Carolina have been generally considered better than average tort reform states, in recent years, or at least no worse than middle of the pack, certainly not like the judicial hellholes of NY, NJ, PA, Illinois, etc.
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Having practiced in SC for almost 10 years now, I'd agree with that.
I know a few people who have been sued (including I think 2 EPs), but most either got dropped or seemed to me to be legitimate cases that I might have made a fuss over had I been the patient.
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As a doctor, expect to be sued over things that were not malpractice. Welcome to the Big Leagues, you're a successful person with high income. If you earn lots of money, people will try to take it, one way or another. Harassing you with frivolous lawsuits happens to be one way of doing that. Definitely avoid the judicial hell-hole states. Picking states by tort reform may lower the amount of times you're sued and the award amounts, but won't eliminate that fact that there's an overwhelming likelihood you will be sued at least once, at some point in your career. Low risk specialities, have a 75% chance of being sued at least once, whereas high risk specialities have a 99% chance, per NEJM. Get lawyers and let them worry about the lawyers.
