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Malpractice Cases Gobble 11% of Doctors' Time
Over a presumed 40-year career, the average physician spends more than 4 years—about 50 months of his or her time—with an unresolved malpractice claim.
This article points out one of the primary justifications for the early investigation and resolution of cases. Unfortunately, physicians are often one of the biggest obstacles to that process. If the matter has been appropriately investigated and reviewed, the parties have had open discussion(s) and reasonable offers have been made, one of two things will happen. The case will settle within months OR it will go forward, but then they tend to move faster. The issues have already been laid out and there are few surprises, also reducing the stress level.
I would be curious to know, of that 11%, how much actual time the physician spent in helping resolve the case. Surely most of the time is just the time spent with the spectre hanging over the head.