What is the reason for about 50% of malpractice lawsuits?

• A. Failure to diagnose
• B. Referrals
• C. Inadequate exam
• D. Lack of communication

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that many malpractice claims arise from gaps in care coordination, especially around referrals. When a patient is sent to another provider, delays, failures to initiate the referral, or poor communication about why the referral is needed, what the next steps are, and what the specialist should report back can create a break in the care continuum. That break can lead to harm that could have been prevented with timely, coordinated care, and juries often see this as neglect of standard of care.

So, even if the initial evaluation was reasonable, problems in the referral process—delays, inappropriate referrals, or lack of follow-up on the referral—tend to be a common route to lawsuits because they represent a systemic failure in ensuring continuous, communicated care across providers. In comparison, while failure to diagnose or an inadequate exam are serious, the referral process is a frequent source of claims due to how it disrupts care continuity and patient outcomes.