Every hospital, clinic and medical practice is covered by malpractice insurance. In some states, it is the law as well as a practical necessity.

However, you as an employee need your own malpractice policy or at the very least a rider on your employer’s policy that names you specifically. Also known as professional liability insurance, it is essential that you have malpractice insurance in your name, and there are several very good reasons for this.

Every physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist and other health care professional should be covered by a malpractice insurance policy.

In this Malpractice Guide, you’ll learn why you should never be without malpractice insurance that lists you by name as the individual covered.

Reasons for Having Malpractice Insurance in Your Name

Here are the top 5 reasons why you should have a professional liability insurance or medical malpractice insurance policy that names you specifically.

You Might be Sued Directly

If someone doesn’t receive the care or the outcome of the care they think they should have received, they may blame you for it and sue you directly. For example, bed sores are a major reason for malpractice suits and nurses are typically blamed and sued even if appropriate care was exercised. Reactions to anesthesia are blamed on the anesthesiologist or anesthesia nurse, even if the right amount was delivered.

You get the point. The hospital or clinic might be named in the suit – but it might come with your name on it too. The reason for this is that malpractice attorneys name the broadest spectrum of defendants in hopes that a malpractice charge might stick to one of them.

Malpractice Insurance May Be Required by Law

Many states now make it mandatory that health care professionals have medical malpractice insurance in place as a requirement to practice. Check with your employer or, if seeking employment, your state’s government website to find out whether malpractice insurance is required for you. If you’re still getting your education, then your instructors should have this answer for you.

Your Employer May Not Stand Behind You

If you and your employer are named in a malpractice suit, your employer might seek to separate itself from you. If the employer believes your actions were negligent, it might attempt to place the full blame on you and argue in court that it should not be liable for your actions. This happens, and medical employees must be prepared for such an event. The hard fact is that your employer’s first interest is to cover itself, not you.

You’ll Have Peace of Mind

When you own a medical malpractice policy with your name on it, then you’ll have the peace of mind that you are covered. You won’t have to wonder whether or not your employer’s policy will adequately cover you or whether your employer will stand behind you.

Being Insured Does Not Raise the Risk of Being Sued

Some medical professionals are concerned that having a policy makes them a more likely target for a lawsuit. History has proved that this is not the case. A lawsuit is not more likely. But if you are named in one, you’ll want to have your own policy as protection.