Malpractice Costs
Chicago Tribune
January 11, 2003

In "Malpractice insurance crisis could limit care" (Business, Jan. 3), the president-elect of the American Medical Association tries to scare patients into giving up their rights by implying that a malpractice crisis is looming from coast to coast.

Making it difficult for patients injured by medical error to file malpractice claims is no solution. It is extortion.

In fact, while the AMA claims Illinois is "in trouble," a closed claim study conducted by the Illinois Department of Insurance shows no dramatic increase in claims by patients injured through the negligence of doctors.

A study by Americans for Insurance Reform found that not only has there been no real increase in lawsuits, jury awards or any tort system costs during the past three decades, but the astronomical premium increases that some doctors have been charged during periodic insurance "crises" over this time period are in exact sync with the economic cycle of the insurance industry, driven by interest rates and investments.

It is time that doctors take off their blinders and point their stethoscopes at the insurance industry.

Jim Borman, Senior policy associate
Coalition for Consumer Rights