Trial and Error: Learning From Malpractice Claims in Childhood Surgery

The purpose of this study was to analyze a nationwide database of malpractice lawsuits involving pediatric surgical patients to identify contributing factors in liability claims. Using the CRICO (Controlled Risk Insurance Company Strategies’ Comparative Benchmarking System) database, malpractice claims involving patients ≤18 y old were reviewed from 2008 to 2017. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Of the 844 claims, 76% of the patients were older than age 5. While the average total indemnity paid was $544,325, cases with claimants