Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 06:11 PM

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...chavez14m.html

Quote:

Doctor drops patient for not backing cause

By Carol M. Ostrom
Seattle Times staff reporter

Jamie Chavez knew her Richland obstetrician felt strongly about limiting medical-malpractice awards. He bent her ear and offered pamphlets every time Chavez, pregnant with her first baby, visited him for prenatal care.

But she couldn't believe Dr. Mark Mulholland's reaction in November when she refused to sign a petition at the doctor's office for an initiative to limit jury awards in malpractice cases.

"I was kind of fired as a patient," she said.

Mulholland, whose malpractice-insurance premiums jumped 30 percent last year, said he told her he couldn't in good conscience provide medical care to someone with such contrary views on the issue.

"She basically expressed that people ought to be able to sue for everything they can," he recalled. "And that is just so philosophically different than how I feel, I didn't want to continue the doctor-patient relationship."

Chavez, an elementary-school special-education teacher, says she left Mulholland's office in tears, worried that she might not find a doctor she trusted to help her through pregnancy and delivery. "I was four months pregnant. I had no idea where to go."

mountain_hare · 01-13-2005, 06:23 PM

I guess that it is better to be dropped as a patient than be treated by a doctor who has some hostility towards you.

Still, the doctor is a professional, and should keep personal opinions/feelings locked away.

However, I can understand why some doctors are upset about the current situation, especially in America, where frivolous lawsuits are rife. Sometimes 'Mistakes of God' occur in medicine, where the doctor is not to blame. Yet he is always afraid of malpractice suits.

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountain_hare

I guess that it is better to be dropped as a patient than be treated by a doctor who has some hostility towards you.

Still, the doctor is a professional, and should keep personal opinions/feelings locked away.

However, I can understand why some doctors are upset about the current situation, especially in America, where frivolous lawsuits are rife. Sometimes 'Mistakes of God' occur in medicine, where the doctor is not to blame. Yet he is always afraid of malpractice suits.

I would have more sympathy for doctors, if they didn't protect their own like some kind of secret society. It is virtually impossible to get a record of each doctor's past problems, issues, etc. And disciplining a doctor who has repeated and multiple breaches of professional conduct is unheard of, because the medical boards shield their members. It's similar to the way that Roman Catholic dioceses shield their pedophile priests.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for complaints about rising insurance costs, when the MDs aren't willing to help root out the 1-2% of their members that account for 95% of the lawsuits.

mountain_hare · 01-13-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

would have more sympathy for doctors, if they didn't protect their own like some kind of secret society.

LOL. That reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Eileen 'upset' one of the doctors. Word got around, and even the vet wouldn't take a look at her.

I'm surprised that the 'conspiracy' is that bad. I always knew that doctors protected their own, but I obviously underestimated the seriousness.

Loren Pechtel · 01-13-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron

I don't have a lot of sympathy for complaints about rising insurance costs, when the MDs aren't willing to help root out the 1-2% of their members that account for 95% of the lawsuits.

Because that small percent of doctors is a high percent of the total in the fields that really get hammered. It's been discussed on here before--past lawsuits are not much of a predictor of future claims.

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel

Because that small percent of doctors is a high percent of the total in the fields that really get hammered.

Incorrect.

Quote:

It's been discussed on here before--past lawsuits are not much of a predictor of future claims.

"It's been discussed on here before" is evidently one of your codewords for "I can't prove it, so just take my word on it." The facts say otherwise, Loren. The bad doctors are in many fields, and not just in specific fields.

Viti · 01-13-2005, 09:02 PM

Yes, Sauron, you are correct there are bad doctors in many fields, however the insurance companies (who I beleive are a major cause of all these problems) charge much higher premiums for obstetricians and surgeons and are telling them they will lower their premiums if tort reform comes about (prolly lying). Presumably because those fields often have a higher chance, naturally, of bad patient outcomes and more lawsuits.

Finding an effective way to discipline bad doctors is good, finding a way for doctors to afford insurance is also necessary.

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyShea

Yes, Sauron, you are correct there are bad doctors in many fields, however the insurance companies (who I beleive are a major cause of all these problems) charge much higher premiums for obstetricians and surgeons and are telling them they will lower their premiums if tort reform comes about (prolly lying). Presumably because those fields often have a higher chance, naturally, of bad patient outcomes and more lawsuits.

Finding an effective way to discipline bad doctors is good, finding a way for doctors to afford insurance is also necessary.

Oh, I don't doubt that certain areas are more prone than other areas. But the curtain of secrecy and mutual protection shouldn't exist, period. And I'm sure that the insurance companies are pressuring doctors to do their bidding. But in a way, the doctors have brought it upon themselves, by insisting on shielding their misbehaving brethren.

Loren Pechtel · 01-13-2005, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sauron

Incorrect.

"It's been discussed on here before" is evidently one of your codewords for "I can't prove it, so just take my word on it." The facts say otherwise, Loren. The bad doctors are in many fields, and not just in specific fields.

I don't feel like hunting down what was on your screen a few weeks ago.

However, the first hit on google:

http://www.asahq.org/Newsletters/200...lations602.htm

Quote:

When queried, 76 percent of all obstetricians have been sued, and 40 percent have been sued three times or more.

That's a few bad apples????

Loren Pechtel · 01-13-2005, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyShea

Yes, Sauron, you are correct there are bad doctors in many fields, however the insurance companies (who I beleive are a major cause of all these problems) charge much higher premiums for obstetricians and surgeons and are telling them they will lower their premiums if tort reform comes about (prolly lying). Presumably because those fields often have a higher chance, naturally, of bad patient outcomes and more lawsuits.

Finding an effective way to discipline bad doctors is good, finding a way for doctors to afford insurance is also necessary.

The recent crisis was caused by the biggest player in the business simply quitting. That's not about making money, that's about avoiding losing money.

As for what the insurance companies have said here--they'll reduce rates when they see the cap upheld in the state Supreme Court. Too many of them fall for the insurance companies to consider them effective until they've passed this test.

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01-13-2005, 06:23 PM	#2
mountain_hare Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 703	I guess that it is better to be dropped as a patient than be treated by a doctor who has some hostility towards you. Still, the doctor is a professional, and should keep personal opinions/feelings locked away. However, I can understand why some doctors are upset about the current situation, especially in America, where frivolous lawsuits are rife. Sometimes 'Mistakes of God' occur in medicine, where the doctor is not to blame. Yet he is always afraid of malpractice suits.

01-13-2005, 09:02 PM	#7
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	Yes, Sauron, you are correct there are bad doctors in many fields, however the insurance companies (who I beleive are a major cause of all these problems) charge much higher premiums for obstetricians and surgeons and are telling them they will lower their premiums if tort reform comes about (prolly lying). Presumably because those fields often have a higher chance, naturally, of bad patient outcomes and more lawsuits. Finding an effective way to discipline bad doctors is good, finding a way for doctors to afford insurance is also necessary.

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