Have you ever thought, “If I got sued, I don’t think I could survive it?”
Malpractice litigation is one of medicine’s unspoken fears. We know it’s possible — but we rarely talk about the shame, isolation, sleepless nights, and identity-shaking stress that can come with it.
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Dr. Gita Pensa — emergency physician, coach, and podcast host of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word. Dr. Pensa shares her experience enduring a 12-year malpractice lawsuit that included two trials. What began as one of the most traumatic chapters of her life ultimately became the catalyst for meaningful advocacy and support for other physicians facing litigation.
If you’ve ever been sued, fear being sued, or want to better understand this hidden side of medicine, this conversation is essential listening.
In this episode we’re talking about:
- What it felt like to be named in a $28 million malpractice lawsuit early in her career
- The emotional toll of enduring 12 years of litigation — including two trials
- The moment her verdict was overturned and how she found the strength to keep going
- Why litigation stress and shame often remain hidden
- Practical strategies for coping and learning how the legal system works
- Common mistakes physicians make during the litigation process
- How Gita is turning her experience into advocacy, coaching, and culture change in medicine
Links for this episode:
Doctors and Litigation Website
Find ‘Doctors and Litigation’ on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
Doctors and Litigation Podcast
⭐️ If you want to feel more prepared for the realities of medical litigation, this is a powerful resource to have. LEAP: The Litigation Education and Performance Course for Clinicians is a 12-week, self-paced program by Dr. Gita Pensa designed to help physicians, nurses, and APPs understand the legal process, manage litigation stress, and perform confidently in high-stakes situations. It’s approved for 16.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and can be valuable whether you’re currently in a case or planning ahead.
Get $100 off with code CROSSING100 at checkout, or use this link (code already applied):
https://www.doctorsandlitigation.com/offers/C82qyXYE?coupon_code=CROSSING100
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Thank you for this episode – I wish it had been available when I was sued in the past (twice). I considered leaving medicine completely and even suicide. It’s been several years, but very recently I saw a news article about one of the patients, and the feelings of isolation and shame came roaring right back.
I will definitely check out the podcast and the book (When Good Doctors Get Sued). My attorneys were really supportive, and that’s what got me through, but I didn’t feel like there was anyone else I could turn to for support. Dr. Pensa’s work is SO important!
Thank you so much for sharing this so openly. I can only imagine how difficult it was to go through not just one, but two lawsuits—and how painful it must have been to have those feelings resurface so vividly after seeing that article. That kind of experience has a way of staying in the body and heart, even years later.
It’s true that many excellent physicians get sued, and it’s often one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives. And yet, it’s something that’s so often carried quietly, without a safe place to process it. The isolation and shame you described are, unfortunately, incredibly common… but rarely talked about.
I’m really glad you had supportive attorneys—that can make such a difference—but I hear you on how limited the emotional support can feel beyond that. It’s one of the reasons voices like Dr. Gita Pensa are so important right now. She’s helping bring these experiences into the light in a way that allows others to feel less alone.
And I want to thank you, too, for being part of that. By sharing here, you’re helping normalize something that so many physicians go through but often hide. That takes courage, and it matters more than you may realize.
I’m really glad you’re going to check out the podcast and When Good Doctors Get Sued—I hope they offer you some sense of validation and support. And most of all, I’m glad you’re still here and continuing forward. Heather