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Heretofore, medical malpractice had largely been a problem for physicians in the U.S. Authors of a review of risk management in the U.K. retrieved data from organizations that collect information on adverse events.
Of 98 cases reported to the National Health Service Litigation Authority, 44 were related to dermatologic surgery, 25 to phototherapy, and 14 to histopathologic reporting. Allegations included wrong phototherapy doses (24), missed skin cancer on path exam (13), delayed skin cancer diagnosis (13), and wrong-site surgery (3). The Medical Defence Union provided data on 94 claims; 6 were settled — 2 involving laser treatment and 1 each involving damage from cryosurgery, missed skin cancer, wound infection, and nerve damage. The Medica…