"the length of time required to resolve litigated claims more generally may help explain why malpractice claims undergoing litigation are an important source of concern to physicians"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22825616

Arch Intern Med. 2012 Jun 11;172(11):892-4.

Outcomes of Medical Malpractice Litigation Against US Physicians.

Jena AB, Chandra A, Lakdawalla D, Seabury S.

"There are few estimates of the rates and outcomes of malpractice litigation according to physician specialty as well as of the time required to resolve litigated claims of varying types. In our study, approximately 50% of all claims involved litigation, with half of these litigated claims being dismissed in court. A large percentage of litigated claims were resolved before verdict. Outcomes of litigation varied substantially according to specialty. The length of time required to resolve claims was twice as great for litigated than for nonlitigated claims, and time to resolution was considerable even among claims that were dismissed in court. While most claims were ultimately decided in a physician's favor, that resolution came only after months or years. The substantial portion of litigated claims that are not dismissed in court and the length of time required to resolve litigated claims more generally may help explain why malpractice claims undergoing litigation are an important source of concern to physicians."