December 18, 2005
The Sun's investigation is based on thousands of pages of records, as well as dozens of interviews with doctors, lawyers, patients, lawmakers and regulatory experts.

Reporter Fred Schulte identified doctors with the most malpractice claims from 1995 to 2004 through a computer analysis of records obtained from the Maryland Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office in Baltimore, where all claims are initially filed.

In response to Public Information Act requests from The Sun, the Maryland Board of Physicians furnished data from 1999 through 2004 showing the numbers of doctors with multiple settlements, but not their names. The board also provided last spring the names of doctors whose claims histories were posted on the state's Web site.

In addition, Schulte reviewed the board's public disciplinary records going back to 1995.

The Maryland Insurance Administration, in response to a request under the act, furnished the names of doctors who had appealed the loss of their malpractice insurance coverage.

The total number of doctors associated with malpractice actions cannot be precisely calculated. Some employed by hospitals are not named as defendants.

Fred Schulte can be reached at 410-332-6296 and by e-mail at fred.schulte@baltsun.com