Medical malpractice lawsuits are on the rise again in West Virginia, according to data from the state Medical Association. Lawsuits had plunged a few years ago in the wake of malpractice reforms, but they’ve been increasing steadily over the past few years. The association’s leaders say there’s no cause for alarm. Malpractice claims in recent years are far below the numbers reported at the height of West Virginia’s malpractice crisis. In 2003, 315 lawsuits were filed against doctors and hospitals across the state, compared to 174 last year, according to the medical association’s report. “We have had a significant turnaround in West Virginia as a result of reforms in 2001 and 2003,” said Evan Jenkins, the group’s executive director. “West Virginia has gone from one of the worst crisis states in terms of its medical liability climate to one of the better states in the country.” Nonetheless, the medical association’s data show that malpractice lawsuits increased from 130 in 2004 to 174 last year, a 34 percent increase. Through July of this year, 75 malpractice cases were filed.
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