Medical Malpractice Claims for Sports Cardiology Cases Among Young Athletes

JACC advances Pub Date : 2025-06-30 DOI:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101915

Samantha L. Weller DO , Masihullah Barat MD , Zachary Weller MS, MBA , Francis Phan MD , Nathaniel Moulson MD , Timothy W. Churchill MD , Kimberly G. Harmon MD , Jonathan A. Drezner MD , Aaron L. Baggish MD , Ahmad Masri MD, MS , Bradley J. Petek MD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/D) is the leading medical cause of fatalities among young competitive athletes. Sports participation among athletes with cardiovascular disease has become more frequent, raising concerns regarding the medicolegal risk and adequacy of emergency medical response plans.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency and characteristics of medical malpractice/negligence claims related to sports cardiology cases among young competitive athletes in the United States.

Methods

A comprehensive retrospective review of medical malpractice/negligence lawsuits from inception to October 2024 was performed using 4 search strategies. Cases involving young competitive athletes aged 12 to 40 years competing at the middle school, high school, competitive club, collegiate, semiprofessional/professional, or national/international level who experienced SCA/D or had a diagnosis associated with SCA/D were included. Medical malpractice/negligence case frequency, location, demographics, allegations, defendant profiles, and case outcomes/awards were identified.

Results

A total of 35/586 (6%) cases met inclusion criteria from 1978 to 2022. There was a favorable plaintiff outcome or settlement in 10/35 (29%) cases with known settlements or awards ranging from $600,000 to $24,000,000; a favorable defendant outcome or dismissal in 16/35 (46%) cases; and the case outcome was undisclosed/unknown in 9/35 (26%) cases. The most common primary allegation for lawsuits was a negligent emergency medical response (13/35, 37%) followed by failure to diagnose cardiovascular disease (9/35, 26%).

Conclusions

Medical malpractice/negligence claims regarding cardiac cases in young competitive athletes in the United States were rare (<1 case/y), although the financial settlements were significant. This study supports ongoing efforts to improve emergency preparedness and the cardiac emergency medical response for young competitive athletes.

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年轻运动员运动心脏病病例的医疗事故索赔

心脏骤停/死亡（SCA/D）是年轻竞技运动员死亡的主要医学原因。患有心血管疾病的运动员参加体育运动的频率越来越高，这引起了人们对医疗法律风险和紧急医疗反应计划是否充分的关注。目的本研究的目的是分析美国年轻竞技运动员与运动心脏病病例相关的医疗事故/疏忽索赔的频率和特征。方法采用4种检索策略，对我院自成立至2024年10月的医疗事故/过失诉讼案件进行全面回顾性分析。包括在初中、高中、竞技俱乐部、大学、半专业/专业或国家/国际水平比赛的12至40岁的年轻竞技运动员，他们经历过SCA/D或诊断与SCA/D相关。确定了医疗事故/疏忽案件的频率、地点、人口统计、指控、被告简介和案件结果/裁决。结果1978 - 2022年共35/586例（6%）符合纳入标准。在10/35（29%）的案件中，原告获得了有利的结果或和解，已知和解或赔偿金额从60万美元到2400万美元不等；有利的被告结果或驳回在16/35（46%）的案件；9/35（26%）病例结局未披露/未知。诉讼中最常见的主要指控是疏忽的紧急医疗反应（13/35,37%），其次是未能诊断心血管疾病（9/35,26%）。结论：美国年轻竞技运动员心脏病例的医疗事故/疏忽索赔很少（1例/年），尽管财务结算很重要。这项研究支持正在进行的努力，以提高应急准备和心脏紧急医疗反应的年轻竞技运动员。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

JACC advances Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量