There is no doubt that malpractice premiums directly affect patients access to care. I practice in a state that has historically been terrible regarding medical malpractice abuse. Result: we have the fewest per capita orthopedic surgeons in the country. A fair and comprehensive tort reform bill was passed about four years age. Result: More malpractice carriers covering the state with dropping premiums. More orthopedic surgeons now practicing in the state than four years ago. Premiums are still above average, but manageable. Every time I have a patient complain about how long it took to get in to see me, I remind them of why there are so few of us in the state and encourage them them to contact their representatives to continue to protect our tort reform package. Simply passing it isn't enough. The trial lawyers are constantly finding ways to challenge the "constitutionality" of the package, and without continued support, its effectiveness will slowly erode, along with the number of practicing orthopods and physicians. The only hope we have is to continue to push public awareness on this issue. Physicians have been too complacent for too long. I like to remind patients that the majority of the gigantic homes on the surrounding hills overlooking our city don't belong to physicians, but trial attorneys. The trial attorneys don't care how long patients have to wait to see an orthopod, until it is one of them or their family member.
That is all.
-ED