Trends in US malpractice payments in dentistry compared to other health professions – dentistry payments increase, others fall

• Published in: British dental journal Vol. 222; no. 1; pp. 36 - 40
• Main Author: Nalliah, R. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13-01-2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 4014/4006; 706/648/280; Advanced practice nurses; Attorneys; Dentistry; Dentistry - statistics & numerical data; Dentists; Humans; Legal research; Litigation; Malpractice - economics; Malpractice - statistics & numerical data; Medical malpractice; Medical personnel; Medicine; Medicine - statistics & numerical data; National Practitioner Data Bank - statistics & numerical data; Physicians; Professionals; Professions; Psychologists; Trends; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0007-0610; 1476-5373
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2017.34

Key Points
Highlights the 11-year trends in US dental malpractice payments (2004-2014).
Discusses how the trend in dental malpractice payments differs from the trend in medical malpractice payments.
Describes how some differences between the medical and dental professions which may contribute to the different trends in malpractice payments.
Background
Little is known about trends in the number of malpractice payments made against dentists and other health professionals. Knowledge of these trends will inform the work of our professional organisations.
Methods
The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) in the United States was utilised. Data about malpractice payments against dentists, hygienists, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, physicians (DO and MD), physicians' assistants, podiatrists, psychologists, therapists and counsellors during 2004–14 were studied. Variables include type of healthcare provider, year malpractice payment was made and range of payment amount.
Results
In 2004 there were 17,532 malpractice payments against the studied health professions. In 2014 there were 11,650. In 2004, the number of malpractice payments against dentists represented 10.3% of all payments and in 2014 it represented 13.4%. Number of malpractice payments against dentists in 2012–2014 increased from 1,388 to 1,555.
Conclusions
There is an upward pressure on the number of dental malpractice payments over the last 3 years. Concurrently, there is a downward pressure on the number of combined non-dentist healthcare professional malpractice payments.