25th
Results: Thirteen independent experts reviewed 10 closed litigation cases. In 1 of the 10 cases, full agreement was observed. In 7 of the 10 cases, the highest percentage of agreeing experts was 53% or less. Chance-corrected levels of agreement were in the slight to fair range (Kendall W coefficient of concordance = 0.16-0.25). Disease-related mortality was associated with judgments on negligence (P = 0.02). Judgments on negligence of care were not associated with delay in diagnosis or the severity of injury. Experts with more years of clinical experience agreed more about negligence. Experts working in an academic setting agreed less than experts working in a teaching hospital. Finally, 8 of the 13 experts plead for the assignment of more than 1 expert witness to review and comment in a surgical litigation case.
[Ann Surg 2008]
