Do women simply complain more? National patient injury claims data show gender and age differences.
The Swedish Counties Mutual Insurance (LOF) owns and operates the Swedish Patient Insurance Company, (PSR) a no-blame insurance system that compensates patients for injuries that result from errors in medical practice. We combined malpractice claims data (from PSR) with national hospital discharge registry data (National Board of Health and Welfare-Socialstyrelsen) and determined Swedish inpatient malpractice claims rates for the years 1996-2000. Women have higher claims rates than men, but their claims are adjudicated as valid more often than men's claims. The data are consistent with other lines of evidence suggesting poorer quality of care for women, e.g., heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. Middle-aged (40- to 59-year-old) patients file malpractice claims at almost twice the national rate, whereas patients younger than 19 years and older than 80 years of age file at significantly below the average rate. Differences in claims rates have major financial and quality of care implications. Further studies are needed.
Pukk
Karin
K
Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. karin.pukk@mmc.ki.se
Lundberg
Jonas
J
Penaloza-Pesantes
Roberto V
RV
Brommels
Mats
M
Gaffney
F Andrew
FA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012308:Risk Management; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D016387:Women's Health