Malpratice AP Poll

[DOGS THAT BARK]

AP Poll: Support for curbs on malpractice lawsuits

<CITE class=vcard>By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar And Trevor Tompson, Associated Press Writers </CITE>? <ABBR class=timedate title=2009-11-19T03:01:37-0800>Thu Nov 19, 6:01 am ET</ABBR>
<!-- end .byline -->WASHINGTON ? Most Americans want Congress to deal with malpractice lawsuits driving up the cost of medical care, says an Associated Press poll.
Yet Democrats are reluctant to press forward on an issue that would upset a valuable political constituency ? trial lawyers ? even if President Barack Obama says he's open to changes.
The AP poll found that 54 percent of Americans favor making it harder to sue doctors and hospitals for mistakes taking care of patients, while 32 percent are opposed. The rest are undecided or don't know

Support for limits on malpractice lawsuits cuts across political lines, with 58 percent of independents and 61 percent of Republicans in favor. Democrats are more divided. Still, 47 percent said they favor making it harder to sue, while 37 percent are opposed.
The survey was conducted by Stanford University with the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Limits on jury awards in malpractice cases could reduce the federal deficit by $54 billion over 10 years, says the Congressional Budget Office, because doctors caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients would order up fewer tests to guard against being sued.

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

Since we're only posting excerpts and no links I thought I would copy/paste my favorite section

AP Poll: Support for curbs on malpractice lawsuits
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar And Trevor Tompson, Associated Press Writers ?

Republicans have been sympathetic to the complaints of doctors, while Democrats tend to line up with the lawyers. Over the years, the two sides have fought each other to a standstill.

Obama tried to open a middle way, agreeing with doctors that defensive medicine is a problem but disagreeing with their specific prescription of placing limits on jury awards.

Such limits can work against people who have suffered the most harm. A family whose youngster was left brain-damaged by an anesthesiologist's mistake probably wouldn't be able to offset the costs of lifelong care.

Instead, Obama wants to develop alternatives to going to court, such as programs through which doctors and hospitals own up to mistakes, offer restitution and take corrective action to prevent other patients from being harmed. His administration is providing $25 million in grants for states to experiment with alternatives to lawsuits.

 

[Chadman]

And it's also interesting to me that the malpractice insurance companies are showing much more profit growth over the past year than other insurance companies, which would make me think that they must not be paying out more than they are taking in, so the losing lawsuits (for them) must not be too problematic.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Even Dean doesn't deny it--so ya all might as well fess up to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdpVY-cONnM

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Since we're only posting excerpts and no links I thought I would copy/paste my favorite section

AP Poll: Support for curbs on malpractice lawsuits
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar And Trevor Tompson, Associated Press Writers ?

Republicans have been sympathetic to the complaints of doctors, while Democrats tend to line up with the lawyers. Over the years, the two sides have fought each other to a standstill.

Obama tried to open a middle way, agreeing with doctors that defensive medicine is a problem but disagreeing with their specific prescription of placing limits on jury awards.

Such limits can work against people who have suffered the most harm. A family whose youngster was left brain-damaged by an anesthesiologist's mistake probably wouldn't be able to offset the costs of lifelong care.

Instead, Obama wants to develop alternatives to going to court, such as programs through which doctors and hospitals own up to mistakes, offer restitution and take corrective action to prevent other patients from being harmed. His administration is providing $25 million in grants for states to experiment with alternatives to lawsuits.

Yep being a conservative I'll gladly sign affidavit I'll never use an personal injury attorney--
--and I'm sure Da Base will sign one saying they'll never use a doctor

We each have our priorities

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

Accountability - It's not just for breakfast anymore

No offense but you were kind of a dick to not post the link or the rest of the article and only copy paste and bold the part of the article that you thought would serve your agenda.

I said no offense

I know that conservatives took a hiatus on a few terms such as personal freedom, big government and fiscal responsibility during the last few years but I will give the right credit, they never waivered on the term accountability. Hell, I bet you'd agree that that Scooter Libby got what he deserved for leaking in the Plume case.

Before we lose control of this thread, I wouldn't mind having a discussion on value of life. That's what this comes down to. I believe that your insurance company has a fiscal number (consider it an algebraic life formula) that they apply to the value of a persons life. I'd be curious to hear what variables are used to come up with that number?

Let's start here
I agree that a doctors mistake is not the same as buying a lottery ticket and should not be treated or tried as such in the court of law.

I believe that you agree that doctor's mistakes make them financially and criminally liable for a persons life and that there is a price to pay for maiming and death.

I'm ready to get on board the tort reform band wagon as long as there is still accountability for a doctors actions. What do you think of O's da base plan to gumbanize doctors and hospitals and have them "own up to mistakes, offer restitution and take corrective action to prevent other patients from being harmed"?

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

A simple solution--if it were binding -is have Drs who have more patients than they can handle (because they are good) only take patients who would sign form waiving their right to sue and pass savings on to patients.

That way we'd have - good Drs and patients with no attorneys- working together.

--and the rest could do whatever.

By the way--if I ever have a personal injury attorney I'll inform him I am adamantly for tort reform

--and I expect you to do same and inform your Dr that you are against it and want opp to sue him if need be.

 

[JOSHNAUDI]

You're joshing right?