Jump to content

Old Band Bass Player

Members
  • Posts

    2
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Old Band Bass Player's Achievements

Recruit

Recruit (1/7)

  1. jjray wrote: "The fact that medical malpractice rates have not come down even though caps have been put on "pain and suffering" awards in Missouri points to problems in the insurance industry IMHO." jjray: Just so you know, there are no caps in Missouri (or Illinois for that matter). Previously, caps were in place, but were abolished by massive awards by judges and trial lawyers. The republican Missouri legislature has sponsored two bills in the last year(the latest one HB#1304, previously SB #1301) that would address tort reform and put new caps in place that couldn't be abolished, but Governor Holden vetoed both of them. Actually, the Missouri congressman who sponsored HB#1304 contacted Holden several times to try to negotiate a Bill that wouldn't be vetoed. Holden refused to meet with him, and instead, guess who Holden sent to negotiate the Bill...that's right...representatives from the American Trial Lawyers Association. (This was in the Post-Dispatch). While one of the problems is insurance reform, the fact is that caps work. States that have caps in place (California, Indiana, Wisconsin) have no problem with medical malpractice, while states that don't (Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania) are in the middle of malpractice nightmares. I know two neurosurgeons, one in Wisconsin and one in Illinois, both who have never been sued. The one in Wisconsin (a state with tort reform) pays $35,000 for malpractice, while the one in Illinois pays $300,000 for himself, $400,000 for his partner. Those two guys in Illinois have to write a check for $60,000 every MONTH just to pay the malpractice. I know others in St. Louis who are paying $250,000 for malpractice insurance, without prior lawsuits against them. Six neurosurgeons have left the St. Louis area in the last year, moving to other states or retiring early because of the malpractice climate in Missouri. This won't affect you, until you get into a car accident and need a neurosurgeon, or until you have a brain tumor. And right now, there are no neurosurgeons in Illinois south of Springfield, because of the debacle that is happening in Madison County courts. Once again, this could affect you. The thing that people don't realize is that tort reform doesn't just mean medical malpractice...it means all injury lawsuits, and the problem is the awards for pain and suffering. For example, if you run over your neighbor's 10 year-old kid's bicycle, and he is distraught, his parents can sue you for the cost of the bike, and can also sue you for millions for "pain and suffering". Unless you have an umbrella liability policy, you'll be paying this out of pocket. And forget about the costs to cover your defense. If you don't think that it can affect you, you're wrong. I was in the Band for 9 years, and am now doing a residency in a neighboring state. I have another two years to go, and my hope was to return to St. Louis, maybe be in the Band again, but in the current climate, I doubt that it will be possible. I'll probably have to go to a state that has tort reform. My suggestion for everybody who wants to continue to have access to medical care in Missouri is to vote for republican Matt Blunt for Governor this November. As long as Holden is in office, there will be no tort reform in Missouri. For other examples of the medical malpractice crisis and ways to help out, check out the website www.protectpatientsnow.org which is run by the Doctors for Medical Liability Reform. Call or email your congressman, and please vote. Sorry to get preachy, but right now, the lawyers and legislators are limiting my options for where I can practice, especially in Missouri.
  2. I was in the band for 9 years, and still have some of the old rally towels, and some of the old balls that they threw out. One was even autographed by Spoon! Steve - this message board is great.
×
×
  • Create New...