How to reduce your malpractice risk.

A 5 percent of family physicians and 7 percent of all physicians are sued for malpractice in the United States each year, according to a recent study. The incidence of lawsuits is much greater in some surgical subspecialties, with annual rates approaching 20 percent among neurosurgeons and cardiothoracic surgeons. For low-risk specialties including family medicine, the annual incidence of claims resulting in compensation to patients or their families is only about 1 percent. Still, an estimated 75 percent of physicians in lower-risk specialties will face a malpractice claim by age 65. Trends suggest that the incidence of claims against family physicians is declining. One possible explanation may have to do with changes in tort law