Medical negligence payouts over $500K increased from 04-05 to 05-06. Amazing! Age reports Medical Negligence More Costly
Payouts of more than $500,000 for doctors’ mistakes, such as botched surgery or misdiagnosis, have almost doubled in recent years.
I love the implication that “botched surgeries” and “doctors’ mistakes” are on the rise. In reality, a lot of other factors play into this. There have been a number of high profile medical negligence cases in Australia recently, and over the last 5-10 years, the advertising activity of medical negligence lawyers has visibly increased. As indemnity payouts reflect the cost of an impairment or disability, then payouts are likely to increase over time both with inflation, and the increasing cost of chronic healthcare. The article specifically mentions that the total number of claims was not released, but only the proportion of high awards.
Always nice to see balanced attacks on doctors by mainstream media.
How much would anyone value the mental and physical health of their child? Now put a cost on it, what a joke medical negligence cases are so drawn out 10 years nearly living with poverty income no help from anyone and to top it off to play with peoples lives like they are NOTHING, What a very dangerous thing to do to innocent people. WATCHOUT …. The boogeyman will get you…. click click ..
@dad: I would never imply that negligence cases are frivolous or irrelevant, but I am disturbed by the media play on it. If negligence exists, and even when there is no negligence, but compensable damage, then I believe compensation should be paid as soon as possible. Otherwise there is no point.