PEDIATRIG EMERGENCY medicine is a high risk specialty. Surveys of the American Academy of Pediatrics membership have shown that one third of pediatricians have been named in a malpractice suit, and many of those cases involved acutely ill or injured children.1 Although all physicians have significant legal liability, medical malpractice cases involve the emergency department (ED) in a disproportionate number of cases. In one study of 262 pediatric cases alleging malpractice, the ED accounted for 45% of hospital-related cases.2 Physicians are involved in 88% of ED claims, and nurses account for 7% as the principle participants.3 Pre-hospital care providers are less likely to be sued for malpractice; however, they are not invulnerable.
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