New AIHW report on Medical Indemnity

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published a new report, Medical indemnity national collection (public sector): 2004-2005.

The report notes that over one third (34%) of all medical indemnity claims in the public sector arose as a result of a possible error or negligence in medical or surgical procedures. These claims included failure to perform a procedure, having the wrong procedure performed, having the wrong body site operated on or treated, post-operative complications and failure of a procedure.

'Other less common, but still significant, claims related to diagnosis (21%) and treatment (15%),' according to AIHW spokesperson Dr Samantha Bricknell.

'The three specialty areas with the greatest number of claims were obstetrics (18%), accident and emergency (15%) and general surgery (11%)', she said.

There were 137 dental claims representing only 2.1% of the total of 6453 claims. Of the dental claims, 87 were in connection with oral surgery.