FAST FACTS

FAST FACTS
Medical malpractice
Here are some medical malpractice statistics:
Since 2000, 35 Mahoning Valley doctors have closed their practices, relocated or stopped doing certain procedures, primarily because of the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance premiums.
In 2002, 173 malpractice cases were filed in Mahoning County, and 67 of those cases were dismissed. A total of 249 doctors were dropped from those cases, which resulted in unnecessary court costs and legal fees amounting to $5 million.
The average court costs and other fees are roughly $20,000 per doctor named in a case.
Source: Tri-County Physicians for Patients' Rights/Medical Societies of Mahoning, Columbiana and Trumbull counties.