After Texas Medical Malpractice Tort Reform, Patient Complaints Rise

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has released new information regarding the effects of medical malpractice tort reform on patients, hospitals, doctors, and the legal system. According to the findings of Dr. Ronald Stewart, medical malpractice settlements have gone down in the wake of Texas medical malpractice tort reform, while patient complaints about medical errors have gone up significantly.

The findings were based on Texas Medical Board data collected for seven years before the med mal reforms were instated and for six years after the fact:

• The number of doctors asked to surrender their license or to have their license revoked rose slightly, from 0.5 doctors per 1,000 to 0.8 doctors per 1,000. 
• The rate of physician complaints rose 13 percent after tort reforms, from 125 complaints per 1,000 to 140 complaints per 1,000 physicians. 
• The rate of doctor investigations involving medical mistakes rose from 38 investigations per 1,000 doctors to 52 investigations per 1,000 doctors. 
• The amount that doctors and hospitals paid to injury victims and their families through settlements and court awards fell significantly. 
• The number of doctors per capita in Texas grew significantly, from 170 to 195 doctors per 100,000 people.

What can we learn from these numbers? While medical malpractice reform has had some expected effects in Texas, medical mistake victims may not be receiving the amount of compensation that they deserve. In addition, the occurrence of medical errors has only gone up.

Have you or a loved one been harmed by a Texas medical mistake? Contact a Dallas medical malpractice attorney at the Rasansky Law Firm today for immediate legal help.