Been sued lately? Probably not, if you’re working in the alternative health industry. There’s hasn’t been much in-depth study of litigation rates in the CAM industry, but by all counts, it’s lower than in allopathic medicine.

As the alternative medicine industry grows, however, the number of lawsuits is likely to grow with it, as will your odds of encountering a lawsuit.

Assuming you’re insured and you’re seeking good advice (not just this post, for example) the biggest fallout for many doctors is the mental and emotional stress of litigation. There’s a good article in the AAFP’s Family Practice Management Journal that talks about dealing with the stress of being sued. It’s written for MD’s, but the pain of litigation can be felt by everyone – the article is just as valid for CAM practitioners.

Particularly interesting is the reference to studies that competent AND incompetent doctors get sued. If you’re being sued, remember that lawsuits not a reliable litmus test for practitioner quality…