Trends and Development of the Patient Claims since 1995 at the Abitration Board of the Federal Republic of Germany

This article investigates the development of applications for arbitration at arbitration boards dealing with disputes between medical patients and hospitals from 1981 to 2007 in Germany. In 1995 the number of applications comprised 8,149 cases, in 2006 there were 10,280 applications and in 2007 10,432 applications. In order to ensure the comparability for a longer term, the number of applications handed in to the respective arbitration boards are being considered. Using these figures, one can generate an indicator reflecting the frequency of applications per arbitration board. Using figures such as the GDP and the income per capita and other indicators the socioeconomic structure of the area investigated can be evaluated and it can be determined, whether there exists a correlation between the socioeconomic structure and the number of applications for arbitration. Additional the contentment with the public health system will be crossed with the applications for arbitration. Overall the lowest chance for medical staff/hospitals to be sued exists in Bavaria.