AMA: 6 out of 10 doctors sued by age 55

Nearly 61% of physicians age 55 and older have been sued, according to a report released last month by the American Medical Association (AMA).

The report, based on a 2008 Physician Practice Information survey of patient care physicians and other sources, also shows there was an average of 95 medical liability claims filed for every 100 physicians, almost 1 per physician.

There is wide variation in the impact of liability claims between specialties, according to the AMA's report. The number of claims per 100 physicians was more than 5 times greater for general surgeons and obstetricians/gynecologists than it was for pediatricians and psychiatrists. According to the AMA, 38.9% of family physicians reported being sued at least once, with 80 claims filed per every 100 physicians. For general internists, 34% reported being sued at least once, with a rate of 58 claims filed per 100 doctors.