Glad I got malpractice insurance

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was having dinner with my wife at IHOP last night, and in the booth behind us a couple was having an interesting conversation. I didn't hear the whole story since I was having my own conversation with my wife, but the guy behind us had some weird things to say to the person he was with. Seems he was talking about something he saw while he was in the ER. A lady there was crying and he was talking to her, she said her husband had just died, they did some kind of procedure on him after an emergency and he didn't survive. He asked her what they did, and after she told him he went on to tell her how they did all the wrong things. They should have done this and that and your husband would have lived. She asked him how he knows all this stuff he went on to tell her that he didn't know anything about medicine but "I know how the human body works." He advised her to sue everybody involved and she now is. I couldn't tell you what exactly he was talking about, it was about 1 am in the morning and I don't remember exactly what he said, but I do remember that I was thinking "What a trip, he has no clue what he is talking about." Even if you are a biology major and know all about how the human body works by itself does not mean you know anything about pharmacology and how these medicines act on the body and why they work like they do.

Just listening to these self-declared experts of the human body and all their medical training they recieved from "ER" and watching TLC and Discovery Channel reminded me that my is almost up, time to send them my annual $100 and sleep good at night.

Let's NOT post statistics and real data on an already painful matter that can cause such pain to those involved. Remember, this BB can be googled and I would not want to see those situations searchable via the WWW.

I have , it covers me if I am accused of fault, whether it be real or not. Every quarter, I receive from my Board of Nursing, actions of claims. I am sure the Board of Nursing does not mind printing peoples/nurses name for all to view but let's not do it hear.

That $ 100 a year gives me great peace of mind; much like my AAA auto insurance on towing; I did not use it for years and low and behold used it twice last summer getting towed (ugh!!!) in Kansas. My AAA suddenly paid for itself.

I really do not care for lawyers. It is worth it for me to pay my premium and KNOW I have an ally in my corner when it is needed.

Yeah, let's not. Or, rather, maybe the "not" is that there is none to post.

I'm retiring from this thread, given that the response to my challenge has been underwhelming, and folks are reduced to citing AAA insurance as "proof" of why nurses need . When someone has concrete, actual examples of nurses who needed and used malpractice insurance, I'll be happy to discuss the particulars. Until then, folks, I encourage you all to think for yourselves, and not be taken in by the insurance company propaganda.

Jim Huffman, RN

I have and have had it since I was a student. Like many, I wondered whether or not I really needed it. I started an internet search for an answer or at least some guidance. Perhaps what I have read will help some of you reach a decision that is right for you. I hope that I am neither paranoid or neurotic but instead that I am thoughtful and careful. At the end of the day, I only want to protect my family, my patients, and myself.

Type in "medical malpractice" or "nursing malpractice" or "nursing malpractice insurance". You will find information on lawsuits filed. It has been my experience that there are attorneys out who list their settlements and verdicts with great pride. In addition, there is a nursing malpractice insurance carrier who posts a "Case of the Month". At the end of the posting you will find the actual names of plantiffs/defendants, expert witnesses, a filing number, etc. and a summary of the case.

After reviewing the information I found, I made the decision to carry malpractice insurance. I am not sure it will "attract" a law suit. I have carried insurance for about 8 years now and thanks be to God I have never been sued. I simply cannot watch everything I worked for go down the drain.

I can't afford to be that naive. I know that the agency I work for (any agency for that matter) is going to look out for themselves. I also know that my insurance company may settle (key words being may settle) if they think the case cannot be won. But it is nice to know that if they think it can be won, someone will fight. They may not be fighting for me, I don't care. They don't want to pay out money if they don't have to and if that motivates them and the outcome is favorable for me GGrreat!!! At the very least I lose no more than that infamous $100 I've heard so much about.

These details are not public record if an out of court settlement including a non-disclosure agreement was reached.

96% of all suits filed are settled out of court.

Yes public records do exist regarding all civil suits filed. The settlement itself, and conditions of settlement may not be public.

Anyone who has been involved in a lawsuit can refer to these records.

So..... we are waiting....

Oh yeah, that must be cause attorneys never sue individuals, as claimed by another poster.

I am the poster who said that attorney do not sue individuals.

Read my other posts. I am simply giving information based on my experience in the legal field. Specifically, Medical malpractice and medical negligence.

Is this the way to learn? By mocking other nurses' experience. Certainly hope that any other nurses' experience is not ignored like it is on this subject.

My biggest beef is the use of fear, propaganda and misinformation to make money. This is what is being done to nurses. Insurance companies are the biggest contributor's to this nurse-insurance hysteria. Look where the information is coming from. Look at the agenda.

The opportunity to learn, gather information, analyse that information, and make your own decision is here.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

It doesn't seem like $100 a year is much of an exploitation, given the peace of mind it buys those of us who chose to carry . By way of comparison, the errors and omissions insurance for a local chapter of the Autism Society is $500 a year. That is exploitation, given that I doubt any parent support group has ever lost a lawsuit for an error or omission.

Multiply 100$ by... millions of nurses...

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
No one is viewing life through rose-colored glasses. But I can safely say that NO ONE reading this has been a party in a malpractice lawsuit, or known of a case of a nurse who has. No one.

If someone wishes to prove me wrong, I invite them to bring out names, dates, details, etc. (all of which are public record).

I'll be waiting.

Jim Huffman, RN

I personally have faced a lawsuit and know of two other nurses that have.

I do not post and will not post personal info on a BB, or privately to j Huffman. I know the truth of what I state in regards to the lawsuits, and others can judge its veracity for themselves.

This is merely an Internet BB. One can take its opinions on face value or not at all.

edited per request of moderator.

I personally have faced a lawsuit and know of two other nurses that have.

I do not post and will not post personal info on a BB, or privately to J.Huffman as, I have noted his posts in the past, and do not have Faith in his personal character. If he wishes to disallow this, well so be it. I know the truth of what I state, and others can judge its veracity for themselves. Those who count in my life, believe me.

This is merely an Internet BB. One can take its opinions on face value or not.

This person's response was brought to my attention, and I feel compelled to defend my character.

The post in question is from someone who does not know me. Any discussion of my character should therefore be taken with that in mind.

When I challenged readers to bring forth details, it was to prove a point. Court decisions, lawsuits, etc. are matters of public record. If it happened as a result of a court judgement, the information is there. But I have no interest or use for anyone's personal information, beyond continuing a discussion about this matter, from which, as I earlier said, I'm retiring from this thread. I think that I have brought information forth, and readers are free to do with it as they will.

Jim Huffman, RN

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