Physicians' cognitive errors and their liability consequences.

Diagnostic errors account for one-fifth of lawsuits against hospitals and physicians. Of greatest concern is the rising severity of lawsuits alleging diagnostic errors--over a 12-year period the average indemnity for these claims has risen by 258%. The hospital departments most affected are the emergency room, obstetrics, radiology and pathology. This article probes the structure of diagnostic errors and makes recommendations how to reduce the frequency and severity of these claims.