Originally Posted By DAR Shocking as this maybe I would like to see some sort of Government regulation( if there isn't already) for Malpractice suits. That is one thing needed to help control costs.
Originally Posted By Pal of Minnie As long as it is not like being involved in the Gov health care plan that the military has. If you are in that plan you may NOT sue for Malpractice at all for ANY reason.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/036480.html" target="_blank">http://www.press.uchicago.edu/...480.html</a> Less than one-half of one percent of the total health care costs in our country stem from medical malpractice suits. The majority of states such as California have instituted caps on compensation, typically $250,000 per incident. The "runaway malpractice lawsuits" myth, such as the "welfare mom" myth, was concocted by the GOP and their health care corporate masters to shift the blame for costs from the providers to the recipients of the care.
Originally Posted By Pal of Minnie You are living under a rock, skinnerbox, if you think that "runaway malpractice lawsuits" are a myth. They are out of control. And no-your favorite boogyman to blame (the GOP) did not make that tidbit up. Try usining Google to check those facts out.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "You are living under a rock, skinnerbox, if you think that "runaway malpractice lawsuits" are a myth. They are out of control." Do you have evidence to back that up? Not saying you are wrong, but I'd like to know where you are getting your data to make such a claim.
Originally Posted By SuperDry That's certainly an important part of the needed health care reform. The people that want to maintain the status quo for malpractice always seem to understate the total cost of the current situation. It's not just the headline jury awards and the high cost of malpractice insurance that's the problem. I don't have the figures in front of me, but I suspect that the indirect costs of malpractice are much, much higher than the direct costs above. For example: - Unnecessary tests: Lots of tests are ordered by doctors to rule out very rare and unlikely causes, but causes that in the event that they occur, will result in a malpractice claim and suit. Obviously, the two extremes for testing are not right: we can't test every patient for everything, and we can't do away with tests. There's a balance to be struck somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, currently that decision is in many cases being based on legal issues and not sound public health policy. - Repeat tests: Let's say you end up in the hospital away from home, due to an accident or some chronic condition that flares up. They're going to run a battery of tests on you based on the situation. As soon as practical, it's likely that you'll want to move to a hospital near where you live, so that you can see your regular doctor, have support of friends and family, and so on. What happens when you get to the local hospital? They're going to want to re-run a lot of the tests that you just had done elsewhere, because they don't want to take the risk that the other hospital's lab made a mistake (even though there's not necessarily anything to indicate that the local lab is any better). One way to solve this is to have some sort of lab accreditation that other providers can rely on, and if they do, they are absolved of liability should there be a mistake. I'm sure that experts on the subject can come up with a lot of other things along these lines. I think DAR's on the right track here, of course as long as there's still a mechanism to hold truly malpracticing doctors accountable.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Try reading the academic publication at my previous link. Medical malpractice suits aren't the problem. Payment caps have stopped the multi-million dollar payouts in most states, such as California. The REAL problem is the medical malpractice insurance itself, which licensed doctors are required to carry by law. The premiums are out of control. These insurance policies, like the patient health insurance policies, are expensive. The insurance companies make huge windfall profits off these policies. Doctors, especially surgeons, anesthesiologists, and OB/GYN specialists pay hundreds of thousands in annual premiums for their insurance. And as such, are forced to charge outrageous fees for their services. As a result, many OB/GYN doctors have been forced to stop delivery and surgery services and stick with wellness care and routine exams, or else go out of business entirely. Google search all you want, but the lawsuits are not the problem. As usual, it's the for-profit malpractice insurance that's the problem.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>The "runaway malpractice lawsuits" myth, such as the "welfare mom" myth, was concocted by the GOP and their health care corporate masters to shift the blame for costs from the providers to the recipients of the care.<< I'm not convinced that's true. I'll confess I haven't read up on this as much, but my understanding is it's extremely rough for most people in the profession. And when the link says less than 1/2 of 1 percent are on malpractice suits, what does that mean? Actual lawsuits? Or does that encompass the enormous amount spent on malpractice insurance? I seriously doubt it does. It's a tricky situation and I'm not siding 100% with the GOP on this one. Obviously there are real mistakes made that ruin lives. Capping it at $250,000 could absolutely not be enough money to cover someone's medical expenses for a serious incident. But there are also stories of people seeing dollar signs and suing when it wasn't warranted.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Medical malpractice suits aren't the problem. Payment caps have stopped the multi-million dollar payouts in most states, such as California. The REAL problem is the medical malpractice insurance itself, which licensed doctors are required to carry by law.<< Sounds like we're on the same page after all. So, how do you fix it?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>As a result, many OB/GYN doctors have been forced to stop delivery and surgery services and stick with wellness care and routine exams, or else go out of business entirely.<< Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Sounds like we're on the same page after all. So, how do you fix it?>> Simple. Take the profit motive out of physician and patient health insurance.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Try not usining Google to check those facts out.<< Yeah, try usining Fox News instead. They're MUCH more accurate. Sorry, Pal. Less than one-half of one percent. Therefore, not part of the problem. End of story. You are entitled to your own opinions, but you are not entitled to your own facts.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country.>> LOL!!! My favorite Bushism of all time. Not only did he botch the line, he botched the solution. The problem still remains, and has actually worsened. Take away the profit motive from physician malpractice insurance and patient health care insurance and most if not all of these problems go away.
