Malpractice in Pediatric Otolaryngology

In recent decades, there has been an increase in the costs related to medical practice. The pediatric population has certain characteristics which make it more susceptible to injury, and thus medical malpractice claims. Children are more vulnerable than adults when treated in any healthcare environment and chronically ill children are more high risk for treatment and more susceptible to medical errors. Additionally, medical malpractice adds to the growing cost of American healthcare, as well as leading to stress, loss of time, and loss of reputation to the provider. In this chapter, we summarize the current state of litigation of medical malpractice in Pediatric Otolaryngology. We also discuss the most common conditions associated with litigation as well as strategies to mitigate the risk of litigation.