Litigation in OB Anesthesia

Question 1

1. OF all anesthesia closed claims, what percentages are from OB anesthesiology?
2. Of all closed claim cases, which is more associated with litigation: GA vs regional anesthesia?
3. How many percentages of closed claim cases result in payment?
4. Median payment in OB anesthesia vs non-OB anesthesia claims?
5. Among claims involving maternal death or brain injury majority occurred in the setting of (C/S, vaginal delivery).
6. Common contributing factor for maternal death or brain injury is ( ).
7. Common contributing factor for newborn death or brain injury is ( ).
8. Most common maternal injury which went on payment was ( ) and payment for those cases are ( )%.

Answer 1

1. 4%
2. Mostly regional anesthesia
3. 30%
4. OB: 260K (30% result in payment) vs non-OB 70K (37% result in payment)
5. C/S
6. Daley in care (31%), High neuroaxial anesthesia (31%), and failed airway (20%).
7. Delay in care (50%), resuscitation error (30%), communication error (20%).
8. Emotional trauma (failed block), Zero.