Malpractice Insurance, Yea or Nay?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 8, 2002

Just got my insurance renewal in the mail thru Chicago Insurance Company, part of Marsh Group Services/Seabury + Smith with discount due to ANA membership. Haven't needed it in 25 years of practice but cheap today for peace of mind.

My cost for FT work as General Duty RN $2 million each Incidence/Occurance and $4 million aggregate is $104.00/year.

They provide coverge for Nurse Practioners and Midwives a higher rates. NP coverage ranges from $750--$1500 cost per year.

Website:

http://secure.seaburychicago.com/www_proliability_com/welcome.asp?cws=ANA-CMA&occ=nurse

Genista, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2002

I vote yes for malpractice insurance too. I have mine through NSO as well, and it's less than $100/year. You should do it to protect yourself, just in case. No one else is going to care about your license but you. :)

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 8, 2002

Always had it, always will.

KP RN · Dec 9, 2002

Ditto....

Nurses Service Organization....

Ridiculously affordable; that is, compared to what doctors are paying these days...

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 9, 2002

Check out:

Malpractice: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Process, Part 1, By Colleen Lindell, RN, MHSA, CLNC:

"Because you're human and work in a stressful, complex, and ever-changing environment, you can't rule out the possibility that you'll be involved in a malpractice case. In this article, I'll lead you through the legal process and provide practical tips if you're called to testify in a malpractice trial. But first, let's review some prevention tips and techniques and define our terms."

http://www2.nurses.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID={83BC9952-6853-11D3-9A64-00A0C9C83AFB}&Bucket=Feature+Articles

sunnygirl272 · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by traumaRUs
I have always had malpractice insurance and get it through the Nurses Service Organization - advertised highly in the journals. Have never had any luck finding anyone else that offers it. Currently, it runs about $92/year.

i use them also....

deespoohbear · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Anaclaire
By the way, some hospitals will tell you they carry a malpractice policy for you... don't trust it to be a good one that will offer great protection... after all, when it comes down to it in the end, the hospital is going to cover their hiney first, the physicians, second and you last...

Get your own!!!

I wouldn't trust my facility to back me up for anything. Whatever happens, it is always nursing's fault. CYA!! My motto for my whole nursing career!!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 9, 2002

I have it, and I don't tell anyone, and I plan on not talking to anyone about an incident until I talk to my own lawyer, not the hospital's lawyer...no one.

RN2B2005 · Dec 9, 2002

Malpractice insurance is like life insurance...you don't look forward to using it, but it's nice to know it's there.

I agree with the 'get your own' school of thought; most hospitals carry some sort of umbrella policy for their employees, but if push comes to shove, you really want your OWN lawyer working for you. Not one that is also trying to protect the hospital or the physician. Having your own malpractice insurance doesn't make you more likely to be sued--in fact, it may have the opposite effect, since most insurance companies don't take kindly to frivolous legal action.

When I was still thinking about medical school, a family friend told me that after 10 years in practise, the litigation rate for OB/GYN doctors is 100%--this means that at the ten year mark, EVERY SINGLE OB/GYN in practise will have been sued. Why? Well, eventually, you birth a baby with CP or Down's or whatever and the parents can't handle it, so they sue you in order to assuage their grief. It has NOTHING to do with your level of competence.