Do You Carry Personal Malpractice Insurance

[MissKitty]

Hi. I'm new here. Just a comment. I work with an LVN who was sued straight out of school. She made an error that consisted of not catching the Dr.'s error in his order. 2 other RN's and 2 LVN's both missed it before she did. All the nurses were sued. All had to plead guilty to the charges as they didn't have the money to fight it. Nothing happened to the Doctor, of course. All three nurses are on probation. I mean criminal probation. Theyeport to a probation officer and everything just like common criminals. They each owe $5000 to their lawyers and $5000 for a fine and none of them are being allowed to work anywhere else than where they are for 3 years. None of them had insurance and now they are not able to get it. I think that just watching this junk happen makes me think I want this insurance.

[WRRN]

Could you site the docket number of that case so I can read it?

WR,,, three commas for Becca

I don't believe malpractice insurance would protect them from criminal charges. BTW what are those criminal charges. And why were they even able to keep their licenses to work anywhere?

[WRRN]

The Good Samaritian Law already covers you. That's why it was instituted.


WR,,, three commas for Becca

I took care of a lady in the hospital several years ago who sued the surgeon, and anesthesia. I was her nurse for over 6 weeks. The hospital let her stay so long as a gesture hoping she wouldn't sue. I carry no malpractice insurance. No one ever asked me one question. I was never deposed. I took care of the woman later on in the dialysis unit. She and I joked that we had bonded when she was in the hospital. One nurse who took care of her for a couple of days was deposed. Her notes were as good as mine. The difference was she had malpractice insurance. And I would have testified for the surgeon and anesthesia. I believe the patient brought her problems on her self. When she finally went to court she told me she got some money. I believe she got money because the surgeon and anesthesia had insurance. No nurse was implicated but several were deposed. I don't believe the patient deserved money but I believe the insurance companies didn't put up much of a fight either. I don't know how much she got. I don't believe it was much. But the docs,and nurses suffered just for being deposed. While I sat pretty and kept my $94.

BTW it's only $94 a year becuase the insurance companies know nurses are a low risk. But they'll take $94 a year vs. nothing. And anyone who hard sells me something has a reason to..I don't like their scare tactics for one thing. Just a thought.

[MissKitty]

It is not my case, so no. I don't have a docket number. I don't know all of the details, either. I only know that none of these nurses had insurance and cited that as the reason they pled guilty instead of fought the charges. BTW, one of them was in RN school when it went to court and may not be allowed to take the bords OR if she is allowed to take the boards, may not be allowed to be licensed as an RN until the probation time is over. She doesn't know what is going to happen, yet.

[lam]

If you have insurance do not announce it. There are people that deliberately set nurses and doctors up just to sue them. They will put some one in a nursing home and antagonize a nurse untill they do goof up and then sue. These are desperate people and this is how they plan on getting rich. They cry any thing from predjudice to incompetence. and they are willing to let the person get hurt just to collect that fat check. So if you have insurance don't let it be Known.

[NEPhillyRN]

I do, and will con't to. Sure the hospital will protect you if you did not stray one iota from policy, but if you did... they may not be able to "take" your house, but they can put a lien on it so that if you ever want to sell it all the proceeds would go to whomever sued you. A friend of my family was sued, I dont know the specifics of the events, but I do know that she has to pay out of pocket. Like was said before, my pockets are rather shallow. What little is in them, I'd like to keep!

[nursinghumor]

I've worked hard for what I have.

Everytime I'm sued, the insurance company knows there is a million dollars at risk (in eight years, I've never been sued).

Knowing it is going to have to shell that money out, their attorneys will make damn sure I don't hang myself.

In the eyes of the hospital's attorneys, as a nurse I'm expendable.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[Neo]

Originally Posted by 1mg.epi

I did for years. Last year was the first year that I dropped it.Then I went to a nurse law conference, they said not to carry it. It is called the deep pocket theory.

I don't know about that...I'm certainly reaping the benefits of liability insurance right now.

Recently being involved in a legal fiasco, I was happy to pay less than $100/yr for insurance compared to how much I would be paying my lawyer if I don't have one.

[nursinghumor]

I've carried a policy since I was a student nurse (required then for enrollment).

If and when I should ever be sued, I sleep tight at night knowing that my malpractice insurance company has a million dollars set aside to defend me, and watch my back.

Like car insurance, it's something I gladly pay for and hope I'll never need.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[mattsmom]

I currently do not carry it. This is a personal decision of my own.

Sadly, attornies know very well we are carrying it and this is why we are getting sued more these days. I choose not to attract lawsuits to the profession.

But that's just my opinion and decision; others feel differently about the issue.