Medical "never" events, such as hospital-acquired infections, hospital-acquired injuries, objects left in surgery and pressure ulcers, account for one out of every six claims and comprise 12.2 percent of total medical professional liability costs, according to a recent study by Aon Corp. and the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management.

Also, as of Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have stopped reimbursement for 10 specific hospital-acquired conditions-often called "never events,obCrLf several of which are included in the four categories above. Findings include:o More than 100 healthcare organizations representing more than 1,200 facilitieso The facilities range from small community hospitals to large multi-state publicly traded healthcare systemso The hospital professional liability benchmark database includes 77,705 claims representing $9.3 billion of incurred losses, and contains historical claims info for 10 accident years (1998-2007).To purchase a copy of the 2008 Hospital Professional and Physician Liability Benchmark Analysis, call 800-242-2626 and request item #178704.