Case Closed

Case Closed: A collection of TMLT closed claim studies Volume 1 (Second Edition)

In our 30-year history, TMLT has defended more than 40,000 medical liability claims for Texas physicians. In supervising the defense of these claims, our claims and risk management employees have developed considerable expertise in identifying the causes of claims and lawsuits and how physicians can enhance their own defensibility should they become involved in litigation.

Although certain medical specialties are predisposed to particular claims allegations, claims of a similar nature can occur across many medical specialties. We reviewed the top reasons claims are filed — medication errors, documentation errors, and failure to diagnose — in selecting claims for this book. Only TMLT closed claims are included and we are presenting the material in a manner that makes it difficult to identify the individuals involved in the claim. If you recognize your own case, please be assured it is being presented solely to emphasize the issues of the case.

In this compilation of closed claim studies, we illustrate how actions or inactions on the part of physicians led to allegations of professional liability, and how risk management techniques may have either prevented the outcome or increased the physician's defensibility. Our ultimate goal is to help you practice safe medicine. We hope you find the information in this book educational.

If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to Dana Leidig, vice president of communications and advertising, dana-leidig@tmlt.org or 512-425-5934.

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Case Closed: A collection of TMLT closed claim studies Volume 2 (Second Edition)

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." — John Powell

This second volume of closed claim studies has been prepared for just this purpose — to encourage readers to learn from the experiences of others. These studies are based on actual malpractice claims from Texas Medical Liability Trust. 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 this book is to help physicians practice safe medicine.

Since 1979, TMLT has defended more than 42,000 medical liability claims for Texas physicians. The claims described in this book represent claims with clear risk management issues. The claims featured often involve severe patient outcomes, and are not necessarily representative of all TMLT claims.

When writing closed claim studies, TMLT staff make every effort to eliminate identifying information without compromising the clinical details of the case. Geographic locations and dates have been changed, and the names of patients and physicians have been removed. If you recognize a claim, please be assured that it is presented only to emphasize the important issues in the case.

For those who would like to receive 4 credits of CME and the TMLT Risk Management Discount for reading this book, please see page 8 for information.

If you have any questions or comments about Case Closed, please direct them to Dana Leidig, vice president, communications and advertising at dana-leidig@tmlt.org or 512-425-5934.

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Case Closed: A collection of TMLT closed claim studies Volume 3

This third volume of Case Closed  is a collection of cases that were won at trial. Though the claims described in this book represent trial victories for TMLT physician policyholders, several risk management issues are apparent.

Since 1979, TMLT has defended more than 39,500 medical liability claims for Texas physicians. The closed claim studies featured in Case Closed 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 further increased the physician's defensibility. The ultimate goal in publishing this book is to help physicians practice safe medicine.

When writing closed claim studies, TMLT staff make every effort to eliminate identifying information without compromising the clinical details of the case. Geographic locations and dates have been changed, and the names of patients and physicians have been removed. However, because this publication features claims taken to trial and the details of these cases are part of the public record, these cases may be identifiable. If you recognize a claim, please be assured that it is presented only to emphasize the important issues in the case.

For those who would like to receive 4 credits of CME and the TMLT Risk Management Discount for reading this book and completing the CME questions and evaluation form, please see page 9 for information. The CME written activity begins on page 148.

If you have any questions or comments about Case Closed, please direct them to Dana Leidig, vice president, communications and advertising at dana-leidig@tmlt.org or 512-425-5934.

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Case Closed: A collection of TMLT closed claim studies Volume 4

Improper performance, communication errors, medical record errors, failure to follow up, and diagnostic errors — these are the top reasons claims are filed against physicians. This fourth volume of Case Closed has been published to help you avoid these and other types of errors. Because one of the best ways to remember the principles of risk management is by studying real-life anecdotes, we are using closed claim studies to illustrate how actions or inactions on the part of physicians led to allegations of professional liability and how risk management techniques may have prevented the outcome or increased the physician's defensibility. Our ultimate goal is to help you practice safe medicine.

In our 31-year history, TMLT has defended more than 43,000 medical liability claims for Texas physicians. The claims described in this book represent claims with clear risk management issues. The claims featured often involve severe patient outcomes, and are not necessarily representative of all TMLT claims.

When writing closed claim studies, TMLT staff make every effort to eliminate identifying information without compromising the clinical details of the case. Geographic locations and dates have been changed, and the names of patients and physicians have been removed. If you recognize a claim, please be assured that it is presented only to emphasize the important issues in the case.

For those who would like to receive 4 hours of CME and the TMLT Risk Management discount for reading this book, please see page 7 for information.

If you have any questions or comments about Case Closed Volume 4, please direct them to Dana Leidig, vice president, communications and advertising at dana-leidig@tmlt.org or 512-425-5934.

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