[JusPasenThru]

Strong work, great post! I'm a doc in Kentucky where we are about 1 year at most behind PA. I'm 50 years old and at the prime of my career, but I anticipate possibly closing up shop at the end of the year due to the malpractice crisis. I live in fear that if I have any upset patients or adverse outcomes I will receive another call from the protectors of the little guys, who will then try to acquire my house, children's education fund, etc.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to take an extra Zoloft today.

[freesia2]

JusPasenThru, I am in Pa. and recently attended a meeting with our state representative, who is working on this issue. He believes that limiting pain and suffering awards, coupled with a peer review process to weed out bad docs, will go a long way toward solving this crisis. He is also trying to find a way to have the issue addressed more quickly than the normal legislative process allows. I am interested in doing some letter writing to urge action on this obviously very important issue. From your point of view as a physician, is my rep.'s plan a good one? And/or are there other things that you think need to be considered?

[bonesmccoy]

Thanks for your comments.

California has had an utter collapse of independent physician judgement.

The hospitals are controlling the local healthcare dollars. The state is ordering ridiculous things for doctors to do.

I live with the same fears... which is why I am currently working with the physicians in our company to build legal defenses around our physician-patient relationships.

Creating those barriers and walls against outside influences is critical.