California is the most dangerous state for surgery, with the highest number of adverse action reports and high rates of surgical complications and deaths, according to a new study.
Florida ranks second, driven by the highest rate of surgical complications and deaths, according to research by Burger Law LLC, a St. Louis-based law firm that specializes in personal-injury cases.
New York, which ranks seventh, has the highest number of medical malpractice reports, 1,459.
Burger Law analyzed data from governmental sources on surgical complications and deaths from 2019 to 2022, the number of surgeons per 100,000 population, access to healthcare, quality of hospital care, adverse action reports and medical malpractice payments.
The top five most dangerous states for surgery, according to Burger Law, are:
California: 4,354 adverse action reports; 21 deaths or surgical complications per 100,000 population; and 1,261 medical malpractice payment reports.
Florida: 22 surgical complications and deaths per 100,000 population; 2,712 adverse action reports; and 1,374 medical malpractice payment reports.
Texas: 4,648 adverse action reports (the highest number of any state); and 648 medical malpractice payments.
Arkansas: 14 surgical complications and deaths per 100,000 population; 604 adverse action reports; 150 medical malpractice payments; and a low quality of hospital care score, 44.85.
Colorado: 1,777 adverse action reports; 150 medical malpractice payments; and the lowest quality of hospital care score, 16.59.
The remaining states in the top 10 most dangerous for surgery are:
6. Georgia
7. New York
8. North Carolina
9. Illinois
10. Pennsylvania
“The findings from this study are eye-opening for anyone considering surgery in these states,” Burger Law stated in its report. “California’s staggering number of adverse action reports and Florida’s highest rate of surgical complications highlight critical issues in patient safety and healthcare quality. … Patients deserve better, and it’s crucial for policymakers to address these glaring deficiencies to ensure safer surgical outcomes.”
