Post-COVID MPL Legal Environment Unfolds As the country opens up in the wake of a COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than 600,000, the post-COVID legal environment continues to evolve. Not only were courts closed for months, but many jurisdictions enacted liability shield laws during a chaotic period in which the virus surged throughout the country. By Amy Buttell FREE
Finding and Recruiting a Medical Expert How to Ensure a Quality Review As nuclear verdicts skyrocket, locating the right medical case review experts is an increasingly important factor in medical professional liability (MPL) cases. With many experts available, you want to ensure that you find an expert with the right combination of credibility and experience. By Adrienne Fugett FREE
Managing Physician Misconduct All physicians take the Hippocratic oath prior to entering into practice, swearing to do no harm. Yet a surprising number of patients claim that they have been harmed by a healthcare provider. By Amy Buttell FREE
Innovation An MPL Recipe for Success Innovation defined many companies that pivoted and thrived during the unprecedented COVID-19 period. Likewise, the insurance industry, particularly in P&C, has embraced innovation through Insurtech and other successful strategies. By Chris Smith FREE
Empathy Training Tied to Improved Patient Satisfaction, Lower MPL Risk Studies reveal that more than half of all practicing physicians demonstrate signs of burnout. Contemporary physicians face tremendous pressures due to a confluence of factors, including balancing heavy patient loads within constrained schedules, the increasing complexity of patient health problems, and increasingly burdensome COVID-related documentation requirements. By Helen Riess, MD FREE
Changing Environment Challenges U.K. Healthcare, MPL In September, Christine Tomkins, MD, will be moving from her role as chief executive of the Medical Defence Union (MDU) into a new position as strategic advisor. Inside Medical Liability recently talked with her about her time at the MDU, her view of the changes in healthcare, and how COVID has altered MPL in the United Kingdom. A Conversation with Dr. Christine Tomkins of the MDU FREE
Perspective Industry Combines Experience, New Knowledge to Create Success in an Uncertain Future Preparing for the unexpected—being flexible and adjusting to changing conditions—is critical to the success of any organization, particularly those focused on healthcare, risk, and insurance. By President, Brian Atchinson FREE
DSP Highlight Diagnostic Error 21,329 closed claims and lawsuits were reported to the Data Sharing Project (DSP) between 2017 and 2019. Thirty-two percent of these claims cited diagnostic error as the primary allegation. FREE
Tech Talk A Prescription Plan Healthcare Providers Should Not Avoid Let’s evaluate and clearly define the issue of cyber-attacks from the perspective of a cyber carrier. In the past few years, the frequency and severity of cyberattacks have increased at a staggering rate. By Desiree Khoury Premium Content
Legislative Update States Continue to Be Where the Action Is While Congress has little to show in the way of substantial accomplishments this year aside from spending proposals that have passed on a partisan basis, state legislatures have been quite active in 2021. By Michael C. Stinson Premium Content
State Updates COVID-19 Thrusts NAIC and State Insurance Regulation into Hyperspace During its 150-year history, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC’s) mission has involved bringing state insurance regulators, industry representatives, and consumer advocates together to navigate through both calm and turbulent times. By Simit Pandya Premium Content
Case and Comment Pre-suit Notice Requirements Remain Strongly Enforced in West Virginia In 2003, West Virginia enacted West Virginia Code § 55-7B-6, which requires plaintiffs in medical professional liability actions to serve defendants with a Notice of Claim and Certificate of Merit at least 30 days before filing suit. By Thomas J. Hurney, Jr., and Jessica L. Robey Premium Content
International Perspective Medical Malpractice Litigation in England: Trends and Insights Every incident of avoidable patient harm is deeply distressing for patients and families, has multiple negative effects for healthcare staff and organizations, and consumes resources in investigation and redress. By Flora McCabe Premium Content
And, Finally Delta Variant Highlights Need for Adaptability There seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel. We were thinking about those postponed family gatherings. We were heading back to restaurants and maybe even the gym. We were getting our pandemic puppies ready for our return to the office. By Susan Beach FREE