Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology pp 223–229Cite as

Sociological Data in Malpractice Lawsuits

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 2417 Accesses

Abstract

Medical malpractice refers to professional negligence by act or omission by a healthcare provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of medical practice and causes serious injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. An estimated 180,000–250,000 deaths from medical errors occur annually in the USA and more than 1,000,000 injuries are also caused by medical errors annually. In this chapter, the author shows the ways in which sociologists can assist both defense and plaintiff attorneys in some types of malpractice litigation since social, behavioral, cultural, socioeconomic status, demographic, and human factor issues are germane to certain aspects of medical malpractice. This chapter demonstrates the ways in which sociologists can help litigators analyze a possible breach in the standard of care, damages, and the proximate cause between the provider’s negligent acts and damage to the patient’s health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Baquet, C. R., & Commiskey, P. (2000). Socioeconomic factors and breast carcinoma in multicultural women. Cancer, 88(5 Suppl), 1256–1264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Canova, C., Richiardi, L., Merletti, F., Pentenero, M., Gervasio, C., Tanturri, G., et al. (2010). Alcohol, tobacco and genetic susceptibility in relation to cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract in northern Italy. Tumori, 96(1), 1–10.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CDC. (2011). National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf

  • Census Briefs. (2010). The Hispanic population: 2010. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf

  • Chambers, A., Routledge, T., Pilling, J., & Scarci, M. (2010). In elderly patients with lung cancer is resection justified in terms of morbidity, mortality and residual quality of life? Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 10(6), 1015–1021.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, P., & Morewitz, S. (1995). Encouraging discussion of psychosocial issues at student health visits. Journal of the American College Health Association, 43, 197–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doubeni, C. A., Major, J. M., Laiyemo, A. O., Schootman, M., Zauber, A. G., Hollenbeck, A. R., et al. (2012). Contribution of behavioral risk factors and obesity to socioeconomic differences in colorectal cancer incidence. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 104(18), 1353–1362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gallo, V., Mackenbach, J. P., Ezzati, M., Menvielle, G., Kunst, A. E., Rohrmann, S., et al. (2012). Social inequalities and mortality in Europe—Results from a large multi-national cohort. PLoS One, 7(7), e39013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, M. L., & Morewitz, S. (2011). Chronic disorders in children and adolescents. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Griffen, F. D., & Turnage, R. H. (2009). Reviews of liability claims against surgeons: What have they revealed? Advances in Surgery, 43, 199–209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gullatte, M. M., Phillips, J. M., & Gibson, L. M. (2006). Factors associated with delays in screening of self-detected breast changes in African–American women. Journal of National Black Nurses’ Association, 17(1), 45–50.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez, D. (2010, March 2). 200,000 Americans killed each year in hospital by medical error. Natural News. http://www.naturalnews.com/028274_hospitals_medical_error.html

  • Harmon, K. (2009, August 10). Deaths from avoidable medical error more than double in the past decade, investigation shows. Scientific America. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=deaths-from-avoidable-medical-error-2009-08-10

  • Hatcher, E., & Whittemore, R. (2007). Hispanic adult’s beliefs about type 2 diabetes: Clinical implications. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 19(10), 536–545.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, P., & Kroll-Smith, J. S. (1996). Witnessing for sociology. Sociologists in court. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koo, M., Lee, M. H., Chang, Y. Y., Huang, C. F., Chen, S. C., & Yeh, Y. C. (2011). Factors associated with self-care behaviors in middle-aged adults and elderly with diabetes mellitus. Hu Li Za Zhi, 58(5), 43–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kripalani, S., Jackson, A. T., Schnipper, J. I., & Coleman, E. A. (2007). Promoting effective transitions of care at hospital discharge: A review of key issues for hospitals. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2(5), 314–323. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jhm.228/pdf

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom, D., Sadr Azodi, O., Wladis, A., Tønnesen, H., Linder, S., Nåsell, H., et al. (2008). Effects of a perioperative smoking cessation intervention on postoperative complications: A randomized trial. Annals of Surgery, 248(5), 739–745.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, B., & Morewitz, S. (1996). The medical malpractice handbook: The plaintiff. Lanham, MD: Austin & Winfield Publishers (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group).

    Google Scholar 

  • McClellan, F. M., White, A. A., 3rd, Jimenez, R. L., & Fahmy, S. (2012). Do poor people sue doctors more frequently? Confronting unconscious bias and the role of cultural competency. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 470(5), 1393–1397.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moller, A. M., Pedersen, T., Villebro, N., & Nørgaard, P. (2003). Impact of lifestyle on perioperative smoking cessation and postoperative complication rate. Preventive Medicine, 36(6), 704–709.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2003). Stalking and violence. New patterns of trauma and obsession. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2004). Alcohol use and risk factors during pregnancy (abstract). Obstetrics and Gynecology, 103(Suppl. 4), 83S.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2004b). Domestic violence and maternal and child health. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2004c). Smoking frequency and risk factors during pregnancy (abstract). Obstetrics and Gynecology, 103(4 Suppl), 46S.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2006a). Chronic diseases and health care. New trends in diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, low back pain, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2006b). Stress: Coping mechanisms. In J. R. Greene (Ed.), Encyclopedia of police science (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S. (2008). Death threats and violence. New research and clinical perspectives. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S., & Goldstein, M. L. (2007). Aging and chronic disorders. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, S., Javed, N., Tata, S., & Clark, J. (2010). Age differences in hopelessness and toe pain in persons with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 100(6), 445–451.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morewitz, J., & Morewitz, S. (1991). At-risk indicators for suicide in adolescents. Resident and Staff Physician, 37(10), 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelucchi, C., Gallus, S., Garavello, W., Bosetti, C., & La Vecchia, C. (2006). Cancer risk associated with alcohol and tobacco use: Focus on upper aerodigestive tract and liver. Alcohol Research and Health, 29(3), 193–198.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pelucchi, C., Gallus, S., Garavello, W., Bosetti, C., & La Vecchia, C. (2008). Alcohol and tobacco use, and cancer risk for upper aerodigestive tract and liver. European Journal of Cancer, 17(4), 340–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell, B., Heisel, M. J., Speice, J., Franus, N., Conwell, Y., & Duberstein, P. R. (2012). Family connectedness moderates the association between living alone and suicide ideation in a clinical sample of adults 50 years and older. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(8), 717–723.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Regenbogen, S. E., Greenberg, C. C., Studdert, D. M., Lipsitz, S. R., Zinner, M. J., & Gawande, A. A. (2007). Patterns of technical error among surgical malpractice claims: An analysis of strategies to prevent injury to surgical patients. Annals of Surgery, 246(5), 705–711.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, H., Thomas, E. J., Petersen, L. A., & Studdert, D. M. (2007). Medical errors involving trainees: A study of closed malpractice claims from 5 insurers. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(19), 2030–2036.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sokero, T. P., Melartin, T. K., Rytsala, H. J., Leskelä, U. S., Lestelä-Mielonen, P. S., & Isometsä, E. T. (2003). Suicidal ideation and attempts among psychiatric patients with major depressive disorder. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 64(9), 1094–1100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stringhini, S., Sabia, S., Shipley, M., Brunner, E., Nabi, H., Kivimaki, M., et al. (2010). Association of socioeconomic position with health behaviors and mortality. The Whitehall II Study. JAMA, 303(12), 1159–1166.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Szymanska, K., Hung, R. J., Wunsch-Filho, V., Eluf-Neto, J., Curado, M. P., Koifman, S., et al. (2011). Alcohol and tobacco, and the risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract in Latin America: A Case-controlled study. Cancer Causes Control, 22(7), 1037–1046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teal, C. R., Street, R. L., & 3. (2009). Critical elements of culturally competent communication in the medical encounter: A review and model. Social Science and Medicine, 68, 533–543.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terry, K. (2011, April 6). Medical errors are still common, but hospitals feel better about them. CBS Moneywatch. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-43842798/medical-errors-are-still-common-but-hospitals-feel-better-about-them/

  • Tokuda, Y., Kishida, N., Konishi, R., & Koizumi S, S. (2011). Cognitive error as the most frequent contributory factor in cases of medical injury: A study on verdict’s judgment among closed claims in Japan. Journal of Hospital Medicine, 6(3), 109–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wikipedia (2012). Medical malpractice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_malpractice

  • Wilson, D. (2010, November 15). Mistakes chronicled on medicare patients. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/business/16medicare.html?_r=0

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California State University, East Bay, CA, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Stephen J. Morewitz Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen J. Morewitz Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nursing and Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay, San Francisco, California, USA

    Stephen J. Morewitz

  2. College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Mark L. Goldstein

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Morewitz, S.J. (2014). Sociological Data in Malpractice Lawsuits. In: Morewitz, S., Goldstein, M. (eds) Handbook of Forensic Sociology and Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7178-3_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation