Business Malpractice
Fort Pierce Tribune
February 3, 2003

"We're losing our best doctors," said Dr. Steven Berkowitz, legislative chairman of the Orthopedic Surgeons of New Jersey. "We believe essential patient services, such as obstetrical care, trauma centers and neurosurgery, may soon be unavailable."

That's because doctors in such high-risk specialties are sued most often and some face premiums of more than $200,000 a year. To get new policies in January, some had to reduce coverage or drop the risky part of their practice.

In Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, surgeons, obstetricians and radiologists in particular have seen their insurance premiums jump sharply in one year.

For instance, one carrier increased premiums of surgeons in Miami-Dade County from an average of $75,164 in 2001 to $117,201 last year - an almost 60 percent increase, according to the publication Medical Liability Monitor.

. . .

Malpractice insurers also praised that plan, as did the trade group for HMOs, which says stopping frivolous lawsuits will cut down on unnecessary tests and treatments ordered for fear of lawsuits. Attorney groups and a coalition called Americans for Insurance Reform oppose such limits, saying they will harm patients' ability to sue and won't bring down doctors' premiums, even if they save insurers money.

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