Fighting Mad Doctors in Pennslyvania organize for protest against malpractice insurance gouging

Politically Active Physicians Association ^ | 4-10-03 | Bones McCoy

[JusPasenThru]

Strong work, great post! I'm a doc in Kentucky where we are about 1 year at most behind PA. I'm 50 years old and at the prime of my career, but I anticipate possibly closing up shop at the end of the year due to the malpractice crisis. I live in fear that if I have any upset patients or adverse outcomes I will receive another call from the protectors of the little guys, who will then try to acquire my house, children's education fund, etc.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to take an extra Zoloft today.

[freesia2]

JusPasenThru, I am in Pa. and recently attended a meeting with our state representative, who is working on this issue. He believes that limiting pain and suffering awards, coupled with a peer review process to weed out bad docs, will go a long way toward solving this crisis. He is also trying to find a way to have the issue addressed more quickly than the normal legislative process allows. I am interested in doing some letter writing to urge action on this obviously very important issue. From your point of view as a physician, is my rep.'s plan a good one? And/or are there other things that you think need to be considered?

[JusPasenThru]

Thanks for all your efforts. Please check your mailbox for my thoughts on the matter.

In the meantime, as I am at the office this afternoon doing paperwork (imagine that!), I printed this entire thread minus the rants, placed it in a transparent binder, and put it on my waiting room.

[Tribune7]

LOL.I think Calif. actually solved it's malpractice liability problem. At least Pa. doctors want the state to base its damage cap the California model.

[Tribune7]

Some other threads you might find of interest

Dem State Senator Supports Docs In Pa.

Doctors Tell County Council Of Their Malpractice Insurance Plight

[Osage Orange]

You wrote:

" Actually, since hubby's neck is fine, I guess I won't quibble with the guy's work, but his bedside manner was really unacceptable."

*******************************************************

One of the best surgeons I know....is considered a control freak perfectionist...by the staff. And many of them fear him or hate him. Besides that he has marginal bedside manner........

But I happen to like the guy..and would "use" him in a heartbeat..!!

BWDIK........

[nmh]

Slow down. MANY of these malpractice lawsuits are legitimate.It's simply not true that ALL judges are liberals and all juries are liberals.

The root problem is this ->admiting ANY human being that breathes into medical school based on ANYTHING but MERIT is your root problem. The medical industry at LARGE refuses to address the massive incompetency that is ongoing in their profession. They refuse to take away licenses from doctors that are incompetent. It's similar to the old days with the police - where there is a wall of silence when it comes to weeding out those that have NO business in that profession.

SO till they clean house, I don't care how high their liability rates go. If need be, let them drive out the incompetent ones through lawsuits. The good doctors don't have lawsuits and their liability insurance is more affordable. That is the ugly truth about the situation.

[Mamzelle]

We're talking neurosurgeon, I'm afraid. Most are at their best when the patient is unconscious.

[Mamzelle]

All docs are being driven out--these crisis falls on the just and the unjust alike. Hospitals, other support staff, too. When teachers are bad, you can homeschool.

Don't think "home emergency room" 's going to cut it.

re: I don't care how high their liability rates go.

I see. Should your hospital administration, driven out of business, care when you don't get the treatment you need, when you need it?

[Mamzelle]

re: coupled with a peer review process to weed out bad docs)))

You'll need to provide this board with some protections, too, or no one will serve on it.

If I could suggest, a peer-review board to weed out some of the lawsuits would help, too. If there is accountability and sensible limitations, I think you'll find that docs and hospital admins want to see patients compensated. It was doctors, historically, who started the insurance in their first place. It's the lottery and circus atmospherics that have made all dig in their heels.

Proper stewardship is the answer. The system can no longer support a class of parasites in fabulous luxury.

[Temple Owl]

I don't know. I suspect, however, that whatever law there is favors ambulance chasing lawyers.

[Mamzelle]

I'm not sure, of course, but I would wager that PA does not require by license or statute that a hospital maintain an emergency services department.

People assume automatically that this is general law, but consider how such a law would be enforced. It would be unworkable. You'd have to define levels (trauma) of services, nature of what is required--and these are left to the boards of hospitals.

Now--the ER is a big money-loser even without the problem of liability insurance. Under better circumstances than is seen in PA, hospitals lose 40-60% on every patient in the ER. But it IS law that an ER see and evaluate all comers, and the ER usually ends up treating all comers, too. Add to that that illegal aliens know this, and use the ER. The pressures to close these departments are staggering.

So, why keep any open?

It'll amaze you, the answer. Because the boards recognize that such a service is part of their duty to the community, part of their mission as a hosptial, part of the essential identity of what they are and what they do.

So when you want to moan about the long waits and grumpy nurses--remember they could just shut it down.

Part of me really wishes they would, that Atlas would shrug.

[Temple Owl]

A terrific response. I agree completely agree.

[jimkress]

Fighting mad doctors are fed up with Democrats screwing with the lives of the American people.

Or are they mad about high malpractice insurance premiums? There is a difference.

If it's just the high premiums, the DemocRAT'S solution will be to have the premiums paid by the government (i.e. the taxpayers). This is not desired at all. It is the WRONG solution.

The correct solution is to severely narrow the scope for trial attorney action, fees, and restrict liability. In addition malpractice should be criminalized, not kept as a feeding ground for the trial lawyers.

If there's no money in it, the problem goes away. Don't just shift the cost to the taxpayers.

[Jim Noble]

coupled with a peer review process to weed out bad docs

What makes a doctor "bad"?

And once they are "weeded out", who will do the work they do now?

[Jim Noble]

The medical industry at LARGE refuses to address the massive incompetency that is ongoing in their profession

Please define "massive incompetency".

Please relate your definition to the ability to a) Graduate from college, b) Graduate from medical school, c) Pass National Boards, d) Pass certifying exams, e) Pass license exams, f) Get staff privileges and keep them.

[snopercod]

Did the doctors in Jacksonville, FL go on strike as planned on May 2?

[Jim Noble]

In addition malpractice should be criminalized

What is your concept of malpractice as a criminal act? (i.e., what would I have to do to be guilty of this "crime"?)

[jimkress]

If, through your negligence or through your specific incompetence, someone comes to harm, you would be prosecuted.

[freesia2]

We're talking neurosurgeon, I'm afraid. Most are at their best when the patient is unconscious.

LOLOL. Yes, I believe you're correct.