Closed claim studies

The following closed claim studies are based on actual malpractice claims from TMLT. They illustrate how actions or inactions by physicians led to allegations of medical liability and how risk management techniques may have either prevented the outcome or increased the physician's defensibility. The ultimate goal in publishing these studies is to help physicians practice safe medicine.

Additional closed claim studies are available in our Case Closed publications. Learn more.

Anesthesiology

Failure to intubate and prevent aspiration
Failure to properly supervise
Failure to manage a high-risk patient

Emergency medicine

Failure to admit patient to the hospital
Failure to diagnose aortic dissection
Failure to diagnose meningitis

Family practice

Failure to examine and diagnose C. difficile infection
Failure to diagnose colon cancer
Medication error

General surgery

Retained surgical retractor
Failure to order pneumococcal vaccine
Failure to arrange follow-up care

Internal medicine

Failure to conduct a proper exam
Alleged failure to hospitalize patient
Failure to diagnose lung cancer

Neurology

Delay in diagnosing lung cancer
Failure communicate with patient
Failure to order appropriate procedure

Obstetrics-gynecology

Failure to inform subsequent physician
Negligence in fluid and blood resuscitation
Failure to diagnose ovarian cancer

Ophthalmology

Negligence in prescribing
Failure to diagnose and refer
Delay in treating retinopathy of prematurity

Orthopedics

Failure to diagnose osteosarcoma
Complications following knee surgery
Delay in diagnosing fractured radial head

Pathology

Negligence in handling biopsy samples
Delay in diagnosing cervical cancer
Pathology contamination

Pediatrics

Failure to diagnose and treat
Delay in detecting congenital kidney disorder
Failure to diagnose appendicitis

Radiology

Failure to diagnose lung cancer
Failure to report differential diagnosis, issuing a misleading report
Failure to communicate