Fed: Patients awarded $150 million over doctor malpractice

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2007
Fed: Patients awarded $150 million over doctor malpractice

More than 150 million dollars has been paid last year to Australian patients and their
families .. who sued their doctors for malpractice after injury or death.

The ACCC's released a report into medical indemnity insurance .. that found about 25
hundred claims were made against doctors in 2005-06.

That's about 10 claims for every 100 thousand services performed under Medicare.

The average pay out was about 60 thousand dollars.

Overall .. the cost of claims has increased from 99 million dollars in 1997-98 .. to
151 million dollars last year.

However .. the highest pay out was 169 million dollars in 2000-01.

AAP RTV jb/sb/wz/bart

KEYWORD: INDEMNITY (CANBERRA)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.