Statistics show lower malpractice lawsuits in Pennsylvania
The number of medical malpractice lawsuits has dropped significantly in Pennsylvania over the past decade, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC).
According to a press release from the AOPC, there were 1,546 medical malpractice filings in the state’s civil court in 2013, which was just 36 more from the year prior. Compared to the number of filings from 2000-2002, the AOPC’s base years, this represents an overall 43% decline. More dramatically, malpractice filings declined more than 68% during the same period in Philadelphia, the state’s district with the largest judicial caseload.
Two rule changes made by the state’s Supreme Court after the base years likely contributed to the decrease in filings, according to the AOPC. The first requires attorneys to obtain a certificate of merit from a medical professional establishing that the case’s medical procedure fell outside of acceptable standards. The second rule prevents “venue shopping” by requiring plaintiffs to only take medical malpractice actions to in the county where the cause of action took place.