Pennsylvania 2012 Medical Malpractice Data Surprising: Shows Lawsuits Down, Insurance Profits Up

Peter Olszewski

The Committee for Justice for All (CJA) has compiled its annual report for 2012 that outlines medical malpractice case filings, patient safety errors, claims paid and premiums charged to health care providers. The results may surprise readers. From the year 2000 to 2012, medical malpractice lawsuits in Pennsylvania were down while insurance profits were up. Media Paints Wrong Picture, Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Down From Prior YearsA spokesman for the CJA said, “There is an old saying in the news business, ‘Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story,’ and that was never more true than in the way the media has painted the med mal situation in PA.”The report, updated every year through the use of state agency data, shows a dramatic reduction in lawsuits filed from the year 2000 to the year 2012. In fact, the CJA reports, “In Pennsylvania, the number of cases filed plummeted nearly 40 percent and the amount of money insurance companies are spending on settlements and jury awards has dropped 50 percent since 2002.” This evidence flies in the face of tort reform proponents who claim medical malpractice lawsuits are on the rise and out of control and therefore need to be capped to save healthcare costs.