which nursing speciality is at most risk for being sued?

[chiuli]

All are at risk. But which speciality is at most risk for being sued?

What about MD's. Which specialty is at most risk? I'm thinking peds because those kids have a long road ahead. Parents can later sue. As far as nursing, Im not sure, maybe critical care since those patients are at highest risk for death and can blame the nurse who is with them 24/7

Do you find that when people get real old, the family kind of wants them to die?

[Flying ICU RN]

Follow the money (insurance premiums), NP with the collaborating physician would likely be at most risk.

In ICU, once they get to us they are more closely watched.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

An opinion from one who has never been threatened with a law suit I am along the lines of your thinking but not peds but OB IMO. In OB the nurse has 2 patients.

Same goes with the doc. I believe everyone knows at least 1 person whose been involved in a suit for or against a doc due to complications during delivery that effected the baby or the mother or both.

[PAERRN20]

Labor and delivery

[OCNRN63, RN]

My guess would be OB. One of the many reasons I stay far, far away from it.

[Flying ICU RN]

An opinion from one who has never been threatened with a law suit I am along the lines of your thinking but not peds but OB IMO. In OB the nurse has 2 patients.

Same goes with the doc. I believe everyone knows at least 1 person whose been involved in a suit for or against a doc due to complications during delivery that effected the baby or the mother or both.

Yes of course, I'd forgotten OB, L&D.

Out of sight, out of mind I suppose.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Do you find that when people get real old, the family kind of wants them to die?

*** I wish that was the case. What I usually find is the oppisit. Families are in denial that death happens and want us (ICU staff) to do "everything" reguardless if it's futile and only going to cause the patient pain.

[hopefulwhoop]

Def. L&D. People are so freakin' sue-happy these days.

[shoegalRN, RN]

I hear L&D has the highest liability. Parents can sue up to 18 years after the child is born.

This is what I am told from a L&D nurse.

[anonymous1919, LPN]

I wish suing was... illegal in the medical field. I know thats impossible, but it seems like there are more ******** cases then real ones. My mom has tried to sue doctors like 3 times in her life over ********... typical I suppose...

[Hay, RN]

Everything OB.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

OB/L&D and anesthesia are the two most litigious nursing specialties in existence.