When a healthcare provider is sued for medical malpractice, many people wonder: What happens to the doctor? In this article, we will walk through, in simple terms, how a malpractice suit can affect a doctor in Atlanta, Georgia, and beyond.
We’ll look at the legal side, how licenses and employment may be affected, and the personal and professional ripple effects.
The Legal Process: Civil Lawsuit First
When a patient believes they were harmed due to a doctor’s negligence, they may file a malpractice lawsuit. The goal is to obtain compensation for things like additional medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering. While the case is in motion, the doctor and their malpractice insurer respond to the claim with evidence and defense.
Even if the lawsuit is resolved by settlement or judgment, it does not automatically trigger punishment of the doctor’s license or criminal charges. It simply begins the legal aspect.
Doctor’s License and Professional Review
After or even during a malpractice action, the state medical board (in Georgia, the Georgia Composite Medical Board) may review the doctor’s conduct. The board may open an investigation if there is evidence of serious misconduct, repeated errors, or a pattern of harm.
Possible outcomes include license suspension, revocation, probation, or restrictions on the doctor’s practice. A key point to note is that not every malpractice suit results in a license being taken away. In many cases, the board takes no action if the case appears isolated and not part of a larger pattern of risk.
Insurance, Financial, and Career Consequences
When a doctor loses a malpractice case or reaches a large settlement, their malpractice insurance premiums often go up. In some cases, insurers may refuse to renew coverage, which can limit the doctor’s ability to practice or work in certain settings.
Employment can also change: hospitals or clinics may remove privileges, limit the doctor’s duties, or decline to renew contracts. Additionally, the doctor’s reputation may suffer, which can lead to fewer patients, fewer referrals, and diminished career opportunities.
Even without license loss, financial burdens and career damage can follow a malpractice suit for a doctor.
Changes in How the Doctor Practices Medicine
A doctor who has been through a malpractice suit often changes how they treat patients. One outcome is “defensive medicine” — ordering extra tests or avoiding high-risk procedures to protect themselves from future claims.
Some may reduce their patient load or shift away from complicated cases. Others may even exit clinical practice altogether. These changes can influence both the doctor’s job and the costs and access to care for patients.
The Path Forward for You
After a malpractice claim is settled or resolved, the doctor’s life and practice may never be quite the same. They may carry an entry in the national database of practitioner discipline (National Practitioner Data Bank), face higher insurance costs, or operate under new supervision or procedure limits.
The doctor may adjust their practice style, reduce risk, or even change careers. For you as a patient, it means the doctor may have a changed practice, and you may want to ask questions about their history and how they will care for you.
A Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help
If you believe you or someone you love suffered due to a doctor’s mistake, you deserve to understand both your options and what happens on the doctor’s side. You can file a claim to recover your losses, and knowing how malpractice suits may affect the doctor helps you frame your expectations.
Working with a law firm experienced in medical malpractice in Georgia can guide you through both the legal process and help you understand how the doctor may respond. To learn more, contact Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.
We proudly serve in Fulton County.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
2 Ravinia Dr NE Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346