experimental medical procedures exclusion

The experimental medical procedures exclusion found within the majority of physicians professional liability insurance policies precludes coverage for claims arising from the administration of experimental medical procedures. Insurers often exclude coverage for experimental procedures since they have not yet been proven safe and effective and, therefore, involve higher-than-normal risks.

Because underwriters do not usually price their policies to incorporate such risks, claims resulting from experimental procedures are frequently excluded. Some insurers will agree to remove this exclusion, especially in cases where the insured physician performs a significant number of experimental or unapproved (e.g., by the US Food and Drug Administration, among other regulatory bodies) procedures. In such instances, insurers will remove the exclusion in return for additional premium.