Twenty-five years of professional liability in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus: the OMIC experience.

PURPOSE: To summarize the claims statistics of the Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC) in the field of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (POS).

METHODS

Internal OMIC case summaries and defense counsel case evaluations of all claims in the field of POS closed between December 1, 1988, and February 19, 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 140 claims were closed over the 25-year study period, of which 44 were closed with an indemnity payment. Claims related to strabismus and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were most common, and claims related to ROP resulted in the highest indemnity and expense payments. Issues related to follow-up represented the most significant risk factor among system-related claims.

CONCLUSIONS

Claims in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus were infrequent but associated with three times higher average indemnity payments relative to all claims paid by OMIC during the course of the study.