Is a physician required by law to have medical liability insurance?
No. Ohio law does not require that physicians have medical liability insurance. However, physicians who choose to forego coverage must notify patients prior to providing non-emergency services that they do not have medical liability coverage. See ORC 4731.143. The required notice must be provided on a separate page, be signed by the patient indicating the patient’s acknowledgment of receipt of the notice, be kept in the patient’s file and be in the following form: “NOTICE: Dr …………….. (here state the full name of the certificate holder) is not covered by medical malpractice insurance. The undersigned acknowledges the receipt of this notice. ……………….. (Patient’s Signature) ……………….. (Date)” Note that physicians who comply with Ohio’s volunteer immunity law are not required to comply with this notice requirement. Also, most hospitals, insurance plans and other health care facilities require as a condition of participation, membership or privileges that phys
