Maryland: Malpractice Payment of $13,500,000 for Injury to a Patient (2014)

In 2014, a non-insurance malpractice payment was made on behalf of a physician (MD) in Maryland for approximately* $13,500,000. Payment was made in response to a claim of medical malpractice claim involving what was described as a "minor permanent injury" to a patient of unknown age. The nature of the claim is broadly described as: "surgery related." The payment report submitted by a self-insured entity described the allegations in the claim as "Unnecessary Procedure."

* The payment amount is approximate because the National Practitioner Data Bank codes payments as a range value. The report's description of $13,500,000 corresponds to a malpractice payment somewhere between $13,000,001 and $14,000,000.

Claim at a Glance

Year of Payment: 2014

Location: Maryland

Allegation: Unnecessary Procedure

Act or Omission: 2009

Payment Range: Between $13,000,001 and $14,000,000

Nature of Claim: Surgery Related

Payer: Self-Insured Organization

Type of Care: Inpatient

Reporter: A Self-insured Entity

Claim Insights

With respect to any medical malpractice payment, there are three major components of any claim. First, there is the act or omission that gave rise to an injury and whether the provider departed from an accepted standard of practice. Second, there is the nature of the injury itself, which includes several factors like its severity, duration, the impact on the patient’s life, the age and general health of the patient, along with many other elements. Third, there needs to be a causal connection between the negligent act or omission by the provider and the injury itself. Even with a showing of negligence, a medical provider is not legally responsible for an outcome that was not caused by the negligence.

With this in mind, the Data Bank does have some information that can give context to the medical malpractice payments, including the patient’s age, gender, whether it was inpatient or outpatient care, the type of malpractice or medical mistake that was alleged, and the ultimate outcome to the patient.

The information has significant limitations, however, that everyone should keep in mind. For one thing, the information is usually self-reported by the healthcare provider and his or her representatives. When reviewing this information, you should consider whether the patient would have described his or her injury as “minor” or “temporary” or “emotional only.” Further, there are important aspects of any claim valuation that simply cannot work in a database. Flagrant negligence might be coded the same way as what could be described as a smaller error, and one would have no way of knowing from these data. But even with these limitations and even where some required information is missing from any particular report, each of the payment reports in the database have enough to provide some insightful information that can help evaluate medical malpractice claims going forward.

This Provider Has 222 Malpractice Payments in the Database

A medical provider's malpractice history can be extremely insightful. A long history of malpractice claims and discipline can certainly affect whether a matter is resolved and for how much. One of the most important goals of the National Practitioner Data Bank is to track providers' disciplinary and malpractice payment history throughout interstate moves or new employment situations.

In addition to this particular malpractice payment, this provider has four other types of reports on record that are certainly worth noting. First, this provider has a total of 222 malpractice payments in the database. This is a highly concerning number of medical malpractice payments. To put this number in perspective, throughout over 200,000 payment records, approximately 55% of them are associated with providers with multiple payments. This provider's total of 222 malpractice payments is more than 99% of all providers in the database, which is limited to providers with malpractice payment history.

Second, the database reflects that this particular provider had four licensure report(s) on record. These are more unusual among the providers for whom malpractice payments are recorded in the database - only about 15% of the providers with malpractice payments also have at least one licensure report as well.

Third, this provider has two clinical privileges or panel member reports on record. These reports are important to set limits on what types of actions and procedures a provider is allowed to perform in case they move to another state to practice. Only about 4% of payments in the database are associated with a provider with even one such report on their record.

Fourth, this provider has three exclusion reports on record. The Office of the Inspector General keeps a database on providers who are excluded from Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs. The provider in this matter has such a report associated with them in the database.

Provider Detail

Alerts 231

Maryland

Physician (MD)

Age: Between 50 and 60 Years Old in 2009 When Allegations Arose

Education Completed: Between 1980 and 1990

Malpractice Payments 222
There are other payments in the database associated with this provider:
YearStateAmountAllegation
2010Maryland$125,000Delay in Performance
2010Maryland$37,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2011Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$97,500Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$645,000Failure to Monitor
2011Maryland$125,000Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2011Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$32,500Improper Management
2011Maryland$4,500Improper Management
2011Maryland$52,500Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$47,500Unnecessary Procedure
2011Maryland$62,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2011Maryland$42,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$52,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$225,000Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$62,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$125,000Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$175,000Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$145,000Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$37,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$47,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$47,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$27,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$12,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$27,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$4,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$17,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$17,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$47,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$72,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$12,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$6,250Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$6,250Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$8,750Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$6,250Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2012Maryland$62,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$37,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$32,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$97,500Unnecessary Procedure
2012Maryland$67,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$105,000Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2012Maryland$77,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2013Maryland$72,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$72,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$47,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$47,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$295,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$265,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$8,750Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$255,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$235,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$235,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$225,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$265,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$225,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$255,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$265,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$255,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$72,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$135,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$72,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$175,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$105,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$135,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$105,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$215,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$225,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$135,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$175,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$105,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$105,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$97,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$145,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$205,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$245,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$97,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$155,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$27,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$62,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$215,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$175,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$175,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$97,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$105,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$195,000Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$37,500Unnecessary Treatment
2013Maryland$57,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$92,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$82,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$185,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$165,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$67,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$125,000Unnecessary Procedure
2013Maryland$145,000Unnecessary Treatment
2014Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$87,500Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$47,500Wrong Procedure or Treatment
2014Maryland$22,500,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$13,500,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$14,500,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$77,500Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Procedure
2015Maryland$1,450,000Unnecessary Treatment
2016Maryland$155,000Unnecessary Treatment
2016Maryland$135,000Unnecessary Treatment
2016Maryland$115,000Unnecessary Treatment
2016Maryland$27,500Unnecessary Procedure
2016Maryland$22,500Unnecessary Procedure
2016Maryland$17,500Unnecessary Procedure
2016Maryland$32,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$3,500Unnecessary Procedure
2017Maryland$145,000Unnecessary Treatment
Licensure Reports 4
Adverse actions by the state licensing board are reported to the NPDB. Some of these actions are public, but some are not. All adverse actions must be reported in this database, whether or not they are public.
Exclusion Reports 3
This report means a temporary or permanent barring from participation in a federal or state health-related program, e.g. Medicare and Medicaid, such that those entities will not reimburse the provider for services.
Clinical Privilege Reports 2
Clinical privileges are rights that providers have to work on staff at a medical facility and to perform particular procedures. When the facility restricts those privileges because of an investigation into improper conduct or incompetence, a report is required. Adverse actions restricting clinical privileges also give rise to these reports.
Payments

Similar Claims

Here are other claims involving an allegation of Unnecessary Procedure and an outcome of what was described as a "minor permanent injury" to a patient of unknown age.
YearStateAmountAllegation
2023New York$145,000Unnecessary Procedure
2021Missouri$235,000Unnecessary Procedure
2021Missouri$145,000Unnecessary Procedure
2017Indiana$135,000Unnecessary Procedure
2017Delaware$335,000Unnecessary Procedure
2015Illinois$845,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014New Jersey$6,250Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$22,500,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$13,500,000Unnecessary Procedure
2014Maryland$14,500,000Unnecessary Procedure