Malpractice 101: Which doctors get sued most?

Do peeved patients let medical mistakes slide? Fuggedaboutit. Americans file more than 17,000 medical malpractice lawsuits a year, recent data show. And some medical specialties are targeted more than others, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Which ones are in the cross-hairs most? Keep clicking to see the top 10...

10. Oncologists

Oncologists kick off the top 10 list of doctors most likely to be sued. The study showed that 9.14 percent of oncologists face a malpractice claim each year.

9. Pulmonologists

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 9.32

8. Urologists

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 10.49

7. Obstetrician/gynecologists

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 11.02

6. Gastroenterologists

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 11.64

5. Plastic surgeons

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 12.7

4. Orthopedic surgeons

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 14.16

3. General surgeons

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 15.31

2. Thoracic-cardiovascular surgeons

Percentage of doctors who face a claim each year: 18.9

1. Neurosurgeons

Nobody said brain surgery was easy - almost one in five neurosurgeons risk malpractice, with 19.09 percent facing a claim each year.