Hello,

I'd like to know what the probability is that I will be sued over my
lifetime.  I am a general and interventional radiologist in my mid
30's living in Wisconsin. The question breaks down like this:
a.	What is the probability that a male in his mid 30's will be sued
over a lifetime?
b.	What is the probability that a male physician in his mid 30's will
be sued over a lifetime?
c.	What is the probability that a male general/interventional
radiologist in his mid 30's will be sued over a lifetime?
d.	What is the probability that a male general/interventional
radiologist in his mid 30's living in Wisconsin will be sued over a
lifetime?
e.	What is the probability that a male general/interventional
radiologist in his mid 30?s living in Wisconsin will be sued over a
lifetime and will suffer a settlement or jury award against him of
more than $500,000?
f.	What is the per year probability of a-e above?

The more specific the better. If possible please include all causes of
lawsuit, not just malpractice - although I only need the causes broken
down into malpractice claims and other (not medically related).

The answer to question ?f? will allow me to better judge my specific
probability based on how long I intend to stay in medical practice.
Thus if there is a 0.2% chance per year of ?d? (malpractice claims)
then I would assume I have a 0.2 X 10 = 2% chance over the next ten
years of being sued.

Thank you for your time and effort on this question,

Raddoctr

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Clarification of Question by raddoctr-ga on 08 Mar 2006 18:24 PST

Ok,

How about changing it to:
a. What is the lifetime probability that a male American will be sued
for anything but malpractice?
b. What is the per year probability that a male physician (dare I say
radiologist?) will be have a malpractice suit filed against him?
c. What is the probability that a medical malpractice suit will settle
in favor of the plaintiff?

Raddoctr

p.s research_help-ga, if I thought the information was easy to
acquire, I wouldn't be paying someone else to get it.

Your highest risk with the biggest potential award against you is for divorce.

Bryan, I couldn't have said better, Bravo. Divorce is Very Expensive,
and unfortunately, very likely.

The next question should be "What is the chance that there is actually
data available to answer all of the questions?" Answer: 0%

It's really the not knowing that is the hardest part, so to end the
suspense I am suing you.

*poof*  No more tenterhooks!

What a brilliant idea, markvmd-ga!

The chances of being sued twice (other than for divorce) must be
infinitessimally small, so you could help folk to reduce their
exposure with this type of service.

Do you carry liability insurance??  If so the company and their
actuary would be able to give you figures on this (I think) since your
rates are based on your risk of being sued.

There is not only the risk of losing a malpractice suit but even
greater, that of needing to defend one successfully.  It is very easy
to sue, and there are lawyers who will take the case.  You don't have
to have done anything wrong, but in your profession something can
still happen that can lead to a suit.