Did you know that there really is no medical malpractice cost "crisis", and that it's really just another lie?

Question

A recent study of the top 15 medical professional liability insurers completed by the former Missouri Insurance Commissioner found that there is NO CRISIS.

Instead, it found that insurers have lied to the American public and price-gouged doctors by artificially raising their premiums. And the Bush administration has willingly gone along with the lie, touting a "malpractice crisis".

-The medical malpractice insurers saw losses and projected losses plummet by 48% over the period 2003-2006.
-These incurred losses have declined every year for the past five years.
-These insurers’ 2006 surplus is 43% greater than their surplus in 2003 – five times the state-minimum surplus for insurer stability.

So once again, the corporate big business machine and the Bush administration have BAMBOOZLED a gullible American public into thinking there's some crisis when THE TRUTH IS THAT THE INSURERS THEMSELVES ARE THE ONES CREATING THE "CRISIS".

Here's the pdf for the study:

http://www.atla.org/pressroom/No%20Basis%20for%20High%20Insurance%20Rates%202007.pdf

Not that I believe anyone will read it.

In fact, the study documents that in the years studied, medical malpractice insurers have made RECORD PROFITS.

The report documents that THE REASON MALPRACTICE INSURANCE IS SO HIGH IS BECAUSE INSURERS HAVE PRICE-GOUGED DOCTORS, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING OUT MALPRACTICE CLAIMS!

THE DATA IS IN THE REPORT!

Ruth, if you're an attorney, then with your analytical reasoning skills God help me if I ever were forced to rely upon you as counsel.

Thank God I'd never have to, because I'm an attorney also. But don't go thinking that you have some special basis of knowledge.

If you can't understand from the data in this report that any doctor shortage crisis due to malpractice premiums is DUE TO INSURER PRICE-GOUGING and NOT increased payouts, then I shudder to think of the quality of legal counsel you provide your clients.

Allow me to amend the previous detail. Ruth, if you think that million dollar award caps are an effective solution to the doctor shortage problem when the data documents that the crisis is driven by insurer price-gouging, then you've got a serious disconnect in your analytical reasoning skills.

Answer 1

I agree. It's just another example of very clever framing of the issue by Republicans.

Answer 2

I agree that the problem lies with the insurers. But not that we don't have a crisis.

I have seen it with my own eyes. In certain pediatric fields, it is getting very difficult to find a doctor in some areas, due to the cost of malpractice insurance for pediatricians. Ditto with OB-GYN.

But this issue doesn't burn really hot with me, as a Republican and an attorney. Really a red herring, anyway, since it isn't likely to get too far.

Answer 3

Do you have ANY IDEA how much malpractice ins costs a doctor for a year. ANY IDEA AT ALL???????

Answer 4

one more reason for instituting universal health care.