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. 2021 Jan 8;100(1):e24176. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024176

Table 2.

Responses to medical litigation, Brazil, 2020 (n = 403).

Question n %
Professional indemnity insurance
 Yes 165 40.9
 No 238 59.1
Litigation/lawsuit against obstetrics versus other medical specialties
 Higher risk 381 94.5
 Lower risk 01 0.2
 No difference 18 4.5
 I have no opinion 03 0.7
Recent impression of the frequency of lawsuits against obstetricians
 Increased 348 86.3
 Decreased 02 0.5
 Remained unchanged 36 8.9
 I have no opinion 17 4.2
High settlement rates incentivize increased lawsuits against obstetricians
 Yes 344 85.3
 No 38 9.4
 I have no opinion 21 5.2
Settlement values in lawsuits against obstetricians
 High 298 73.9
 Low 03 0.7
 Reasonable 14 3.5
 I have no opinion 88 21.8
Distinction between “adverse event” “medical error” and “professional malpractice” by the judicial system
 Never 26 6.4
 Rarely 159 39.4
 Sometimes 162 40.2
 Often 41 10.2
 Always 03 0.7
 I have no opinion 12 3.0
Specialized medical courts to conduct lawsuits against healthcare professionals
 Yes 360 89.3
 No 25 6.2
 I have no opinion 18 4.4
Sued for “medical error” or knows an obstetrician who has been sued
 Yes 325 80.6
 No 78 19.4