Pamela Gilman quoted on downturn of med-mal filings in Massachusetts
Medical malpractice case filings in Massachusetts have been declining for a number of years, according to an article in the May 4, 2009 issue Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Statistics released by the state’s Administrative Office of the Trial Court show that 485 med-mal cases were filed in 2008, compared to 708 in 2000.
According to partner Pamela S. Gilman, that trend makes sense in view of present health care trends. “The decrease in case filings is not surprising,” Gilman said, “given the current emphasis on improving patient communication and risk-management efforts. I also suspect that the decrease in filings is due to a hesitancy on behalf of smaller firms and solo practitioners to make the large investment in pursuing these types of cases.
