When we see a primary care physician, a specialist, oncologist or physician, we generally don't expect anything to go wrong, but history has proven repeatedly that doctors are human, and they make mistakes like the rest of us. The problem is, their errors can have deadly consequences.

If you are treated by an emergency room doctor, or if you receive necessary surgery, you will want to know that you are protected in the event that something goes terribly wrong. At the very least, you want to know that if anything were to happen to you, your family would be taken care of.

Medical malpractice insurance was developed for two reasons: to compensate injured patients or their surviving family members if a doctor makes an error that causes undue harm or death, and provide medical professionals with financial support if they are ever the target of a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Medical Malpractice is Not Always Required

Currently, there are no federal laws that require doctors to carry medical malpractice insurance, however, many doctors have to carry insurance because their state laws, or their employers demand it.

According to the American Medical Association, there are several states, such as Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin that require that all physicians carry minimum coverage. The minimum coverage required varies widely; coverage requirements can range from $300,000 to $3 million total coverage for each year depending on the state.

While not all states require that physicians carry medical malpractice insurance, also known as professional liability insurance, many employers require that their physicians are covered, according to the American Medical Association.

Additionally, some health insurance plans will not allow a physician to participate in their plan unless the physician carries medical malpractice insurance.

If you are interested in filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, you would be well-advised to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Scroll through our directory to find one near you!