Posted on 08/22/2004 8:24:25 AM PDT by CHARLITE
Edwards' Malpractice Suits Leave Bitter Taste In Town From The Washington Times By Charles Hurt August 16, 2004 The American Medical Association lists North Carolina's current health care situation as a "crisis" and blames it on Sen. John Edwards a millionaire many times over. "The John Edwards we know crushed [obstetrics, gynecology] and neurosurgery in North Carolina," "As a result, thousands of patients lost their health care." ... One of his most noted victories was a $23 million settlement he got from a 1995 case -- "He was very good at it," said Dr. John Schmitt, an obstetrician and gynecologist who used to practice in Mr. Edwards' hometown of Raleigh. "But the science behind a lot of his arguments was flawed." .... study that cast serious doubt on whether events at childbirth cause cerebral palsy. The "vast majority" of cerebral palsy cases originate long before childbirth, according to the study. "Now, he would have a much harder time proving a lot of his cases," said Dr. Schmitt, who now practices at the University of Virginia Health System. ... It is not clear just how much Mr. Edwards made as a lawyer, but estimates based on a review of his lawsuit settlements and Senate records place his fortune at about $38 million. Like many Democrats, Mr. Edwards has benefited from the generosity of fellow trial lawyers, who have given millions of dollars to Mr. Edwards' political campaigns and other political endeavors. ... As a result of these and other cases, insurance rates for doctors have skyrocketed - "We are currently being sued out of existence," Dr. VanDerVeer said. "People have to choose whether they want these lawyers to make gazillions of dollars in pain and suffering awards or whether they want health care." See FULL ARTICLE:http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040816-011234-1949r.htm
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
THIS would make a good TV spot.
I'm seeing a TV ad aimed this time at Edwards. People from NC talking to the camera about how difficult it is in that state to find an OB/GYN because he won millions in these cases.
Upon arrival, one patient had died, and the other learned that she merely had a minor concussion — and a $6,000 bill for the ambulance ride.
"That's just one little slice of life here," Dr. VanDerVeer said. "It's a direct result of the medical-malpractice situation that John Edwards fomented."
These patients and their families should sue Edwards.
This ticket is thoroughly without honor.
I love the irony. Kerry has an ad out just now, berating Bush for not seeming to have a plan to do anything about health care.
Yet Kerry has a plan to make health care affordable once again to Americans.
What an @ss.
Any chance North Carolina could pass a law stating that lawyers can only receive a flat fee for any successful pro bono cases? Probably not, their legislature is majority attorney like the rest of the states and Edwards' 'success' is the dream of countless legal begals.
begals = beagles
Can't any of those old cases be appealed?
Personal injury lawyers like Edwards are the the single greatest threat to health care in this country. Edwards has a lot of cajones to claim that he wants to make health care more affordable and accessible, when the frivolous lawsuits he and his pals have filed over the years have caused malpractice insurance premiums to rise so drastically that doctors who can't pay them are either forced to retire or overcharge their patients. I know of one case my firm handled in which a doctor who had never been sued in nearly three decades of practicing medicine was dropped by his insurance company when a patient merely notified him that he intended to sue him. He finally found an insurance company that would take him, but his premiums were three times higher what he had been paying.
You are SO RIGHT!
IF some hot shot lawyer like Edwards, instead of going for the $$$ for HIMSELF,
instead SUED for $$$ go into a fund to help the victims of malpractice,
AND for further medical research,
my option of lawyers would be very different!
You don't mean pro bono cases. Pro bono cases are cases taken on for free.
Oh boy, I feel stupid!
option = opinion!
SUE ME!
It shouldn't be too hard to take photos of houses that were formerly occupied by doctors who packed their bags and moved to another state. Then, a quick comment from the doctor and/or patient....
KAREN HUGHES, KAREN HUGHES, KAREN HUGHES
Here's another good hint.
Thank you, you are right. I meant "contingency" cases that so many ambulance chasers make a career of.
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