This surgeon suggested that they go to Texas for their procedures:
Dr. Peter S. Hedberg, an Oklahoma surgeon who practices in Durant, said he will not treat legislators who voted against the bill and suggested they go to Texas for surgical procedures.Unless it is an emergency, Hedberg said he will “never again accept anyone as a patient who has voted against lawsuit reform. They can go to Texas for their surgery, where doctors are not victimized by the malpractice lawyers.
“This might give them a sense of what it is like not to have easy access to care,” he said. “I will also never again be the’doctor of the day,’ providing free medical care for the legislators at the Capitol until we get lawsuit reform in Oklahoma.”
Related posts:
- Tort reform in Oklahoma
- Texas tort reform a "national success story"
- Tort reform in Texas: Working better than expected
- Tort reform in Oklahoma
- Tort reform vetoed in Oklahoma
- Tort reform working in Texas
- How tort reform can stimulate the economy
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“This claim is simply false. Caps have not added to the number of physicians in rural areas, reduced premiums meaningfully, or increased the quality of services to the public.”
Actually, you cannot prove any of the above. I can prove that premiums were immediately and significantly reduced after caps passed. I agree the quality of services was already high to begin with, excessive defensive testing being the reason, and probably not affected by caps.
” I can prove that premiums were immediately and significantly reduced after caps passed.”
Where? That does not even make sense, because of the typical 4 year tail on claims. And, before caps become effective, a number of cases are filed that would normally be strung out over a longer period of time so the insurer is going to need a larger reserve for the next 2-3 years. So unless your insurer was overestimating its losses in the first place, it makes no sense for them to immediately decline following passage. Plus, many insurers will tell you they’re waiting to see if the caps survive legal challenges.
Rates go up and down with the economy. Recently, as interest rates and the stock market have gone up, rates have gone down in both capped and non-capped states.
Defensive medicine = quality services? In that case, what’s the complaint about? Isn’t that what we’re paying for – quality services?
I pay the insurance bill and it was immediately reduced and has continued to fall since. This is fact you cannot ignore. The rate reduction was directly related to the passage of tort reform. The end.
That’s some awesome analysis. I hope you’re not diagnosing patients that way. I can just hear you: Hmm, it was sunny when you came in, and you weren’t in that much pain, but it’s dark now and you hurt worse. . . quick, turn on the lights and you’ll be cured!
I have to keep it simple for one of the befuddled posters who cannot accept reality. Said poster likely is a member of the Flat Earth Society. I do suspect that turning on a light bulb would do quite a bit to illuminate the dark corners of this person’s cranium.
Its moments like this that remind me why I quit clinical practice. From neurosurgery, at age 37. Went into full time research, and my life is infinitely better. No predatory lawyers, no litigious patients, no begging for reimbursement- and I’m still using my education.
The battle is lost. The lawyers, politicians and insurance companies have won. You just might not realize it- yet. My solemn advice for any physician under the age of 45: get out while you can still build a new career.
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