Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Drop by 60% in Tennessee

Last year, Tennessee saw a steep decline in the number of medical malpractice lawsuits that were filed.

The 60% decrease can be contributed to two new requirements that attorneys must meet before they can proceed forward with a malpractice lawsuit:

1. Attorneys must give notice 60 days before they plan to file a medical malpractice claim, and

1. They must get certification from a third-party doctor or nurse that the lawsuit has some merit

These requirements are part of a bill that was passed in 2008 to prevent frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits from being filed.

A legislative study found that 80% of all malpractice lawsuits filed in Tennessee resulted in no payout. State Sen. Mark Norris, who sponsored the 2008 bill, said these types of lawsuits indirectly cause the cost of medical care to rise. When a doctor or hospital is sued for malpractice, they are legally obligated to inform their insurance company. Norris says this drives up malpractice insurance rates, which is then ultimately passed on to patients in the form of large medical bills.

It's too soon to see if the decline in malpractice cases has caused medical malpractice insurance premiums to decrease as well. Norris says he is hopeful that if the number of medical malpractice cases continues to remains low, insurance premiums will start to come down as well. 

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