Florida residency crisis

[Obedeli]

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This thread relates to another however, I wanted to address the issues specifically in Florida.
2 amendments, written by the trial attorneys (john edward's types), have been accepted. Both of them have FAR reaching consequences.
Here is Amendment 7

Patients' Right to Know About Adverse Medical Incidents

Ballot Language: Current Florida law restricts information available to patients related to investigations of adverse medical incidents, such as medical malpractice. This amendment would give patients the right to review, upon request, records of health care facilities' or providers' adverse medical incidents, including those which could cause injury or death. Provides that patients' identities should not be disclosed.

Financial Impact Statement: The direct financial impact this amendment will have on state and local government revenues and expenditures cannot be determined, but is expected to be minimal. State agencies will incur some additional costs to comply with public records requirements of the amendment, but these costs will be generally offset by fees charged to the persons requesting the information.

Amendment Type: Citizen Initiative

Were paid, professional signature gatherers used to place this on the ballot? YES

Sponsor: Floridians for Patient Protection

Proponents: Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers 😡

Proponents? point of view: This amendment will arm patients with information regarding their doctor?s malpractice incidents and adverse judgments. Proponents argue this amendment will provide patients with critical information about doctors and hospitals in Florida.

Money Raised (including loans): $21,861,532.47 (October 13, 2004)

Top Three Contributors:

1. Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. (Florida) 😡
2. Grossman and Roth, PA (Florida) 😡
3. Brown, Terrell, Hogan (Florida) 😡

Money Spent: $19,270,373.83 (October 13, 2004)

Opponents: Florida Medical Association

Opponents? point of view: Physicians will no longer be able to perform reviews on other physicians if this amendment passes. These reviews address patient care concerns that help to reduce errors and improve patient?s quality of care.

This has terrible consquences. M&Ms or mortality and morbidity conferences will be a thing of the past. The peer review process will be open for trial lawyers to review. A lawyer can literally go to a hospital and recquest information on any and all adverse events occuring with a specific doctor.

Now the fun amendment 8

Public Protection from Repeated Medical Malpractice

Ballot Language: Current law allows medical doctors who have committed repeated malpractice to be licensed to practice medicine in Florida. This amendment prohibits medical doctors who have been found to have committed three or more incidents of medical malpractice from being licensed to practice medicine in Florida.

Financial Impact Statement: The direct financial impact on state and local governments resulting from the proposed initiative would be minimal. There will likely be additional costs to the state of less than $1 million per year, but these costs will be offset by licensure fees.

Amendment Type: Citizen Initiative

Sponsor: Floridians for Patient Protection

Proponents: Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers 😡

Proponents? point of view: Nearly 195,000 Americans are killed each year by medical mistakes. This amendment will benefit patients by prohibiting doctors with three or more medical malpractice incidents to practice.

Money Raised (including loans): $21,861,532.47 (October 13, 2004)

Top Three Contributors:

1. Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. (Florida) 😡
2. Grossman and Roth, PA (Florida) 😡
3. Brown, Terrell, Hogan (Florida) 😡

Money Spent: $19,270,373.83 (October 13, 2004)

Opponents: Florida Medical Association

Opponents? point of view: If this amendment passes, doctors practicing in high-risk fields, such as ob-gyns, neurosurgeons and trauma surgeons, will leave Florida and new doctors will decide not to come to Florida to practice. 😱 This will limit patient?s access to quality healthcare.

According to the language seen on the ballot, not here. The amendment is retroactive and INCLUDES settlements over $5,000. This effect will be devastating. Trauma, Neurosurgery, OB/GYNs will be forced to leave Florida and may lose their lisence before they even pack their bags.

The exact enforcement and application of these amendments will be something to watch. However, they were written by the trial attorneys with only one thing in mind, money. It is their response to amendment 3 (proposed by doctors) to limit how much they can personally collect from malpractice cases. They offered to remove 7 & 8 if we removed 3. We didn't and we lost.

How will this apply to residents?
Well, if we lose attendings, you figure it out.

 

[Idiopathic]

Im not in favor of these amendments, but rather than work together somehow, seems like the FMA raised the pot and got called, when they had not much of a hand.

 

[LADoc00]

Holy **** and both those passed?! Dear Lord, if I were in FL I would immediately ask for 2x my current salary, then bail if they didnt give it to me!

RUN RUNNNNNNNNN

 

[Surgery2Do]

I agree these amendments make doctors targets for lawyers. It is not worth practicing in Florida and risking your career in medicine.

The 3 strikes and you are out is just not fair because each case should be investigated by the medical board in order to decide whether a doctor should have the license withdrawn. Besides if you get in trouble in one state, it makes it hell to get a job in another state.

Good Luck to people in Florida, maybe a lawyer can perform their trauma surgeries.

 

[captbadass]

the three strikes rule does not include any settlements, regardless if they are over 5000 or not. one of the primary concerns with this amendment is that it will force nearly every physician to settle any lawsuit brought against him/her. also, i have read that the 3 strikes can all come from one single incident. say you are found guilty in court and later the medical board takes action against you, that will count as 2 strikes. again, this is what i have heard and im not positive. i am positive about settlements not counting as strikes. nonetheless, i am saddened by the steps florida has taken. i am a lifelong resident of florida and i cannot see myself practicing here in the future if this environment persists.

 

[LADoc00]

I would immediately leave the state, there is NO question there. Every doctor who stays is a pansy boot licker who in the end will make life hard if trial lawyers (aka spawn of satan) decide to create similar amendments elsewhere. Those are amendments to the very constitution of the state! Dear Lord, its almost like Florida became an extension of Fidel's Cuba!

Revolution I say!!! All the surgeons should just walk off the job for like a month. 1000 dead people later maybe the voters will realize that wasnt such a good idea.

 

[Obedeli]

The three strikes your out measure does have its controversy as to exactly what is considered a "strike." One thing is sure though, its effect will be felt statewide if enforced.
As for the FMA...
They slept. I have not seen one stinking ad all season against 7 ot 8. Word on the street is that they intended for it to pass (because they could not fight it) and let it develop into a crisis something akin to what happened in Nevada and hope then that sovereign immunity will come out of it.
The title of each amendment sounds reasonable and acceptable to the general public so they both passed OVERWHELMINGLY!! It was actually interesting to see the percentage of people who voted "no" because they had to have been healthcare professionals or those in the know.

 

[Non-Trad DO]

😱 😕 I'm confused I thought that Jeb Bush was supposed to defend physicians in Florida. It seems that the people have spoken? I mean they did get to vote on this didn't they. Maybe his brother will be able to step in and do something about this. Always remember that insurance companies should be to blame for things like this also. The insurance lobby is the most powerful lobby in Washington and it was barely mentioned in this last election as a problem. Why is that? My humble opinion... simple Washington mechanics i.e. "Washington grease". It takes a lot of oil to move a machine like that. We're hardly aloud to receive a free lunch anymore from a pharmacutical company yet insurance lobbiests get the unwatched ear of our countries leaders in a fashion ad hominem to the insurance companies benefit. I sat in my classroom one day at LECOM and Senator Rick Santorum, after telling us that the President hadn't had time to deal with the malpractice issue because of the events related to 9/11, said that if we would promise not to make so many mistakes he would be willing to back us. Hold on its gonna be a bumpy ride! The first drop is always the worst...I hope.

 

[mosche]

I've been doing a little research, just to get a "clue" as to the possible ramifications for me (I know that sounds selfish, but being from the south I would have probably considered applying to a few Florida residiencies). NOT NOW. NO WAY, NO HOW.

I have a cousin who is a surgeon in Tampa. He, and a few associates, have decided to open a group practice in Atlanta! Why? "It's still close to home, but the risks are minimal." Moreover, the city of Atlanta is actually extending them tax incintives to relocate.

Good luck Florida!

 

[Surgery2Do]

Yeah, I am in Tampa and an IMG but not sure if I should chance staying in Florida.

Sometimes things have to get really bad before change takes place. In the local Tampa Tribune they say the doctors will refuse many high risk procedures and send them to USF.

I wonder is the medical doctors on staff at TGH and USF are concerned about these amendments?

Would it be risky to do a residency in Florida? Would these amendments apply to residents also? Very confused.

 

[Vriesea]

As a Florida medical student, I had planned on doing my residency and practicing in Florida, but I highly doubt I will stay now.
As mentioned earlier, both 7 and 8 passed overwhelmingly (>70%). The FMA has already challenged both amendments in court and they will have to go through legislation to be enacted. Concerning amendment 3 (limiting lawyer's fees), it was self-enacting and therefore went into law Tuesday night, but will likely be contested by the Florida bar.

 

[Obedeli]

😱 😕 I'm confused I thought that Jeb Bush was supposed to defend physicians in Florida. It seems that the people have spoken? I mean they did get to vote on this didn't they. Maybe his brother will be able to step in and do something about this. Always remember that insurance companies should be to blame for things like this also. The insurance lobby is the most powerful lobby in Washington and it was barely mentioned in this last election as a problem. Why is that? My humble opinion... simple Washington mechanics i.e. "Washington grease". It takes a lot of oil to move a machine like that. We're hardly aloud to receive a free lunch anymore from a pharmacutical company yet insurance lobbiests get the unwatched ear of our countries leaders in a fashion ad hominem to the insurance companies benefit. I sat in my classroom one day at LECOM and Senator Rick Santorum, after telling us that the President hadn't had time to deal with the malpractice issue because of the events related to 9/11, said that if we would promise not to make so many mistakes he would be willing to back us. Hold on its gonna be a bumpy ride! The first drop is always the worst...I hope.

If you look to who were the largest proponents (financial AND legislative) of these bills, you will see they are CIVIL TRIAL ATTORNEYS. Some people, no matter what the evidence cannot bring themselves to the truth. For them, somehow, someway, the evil republicans have to be behind it i.e. "big" insurance, "big" business, "big" oil, "big" anything. It practically becomes a knee jerk reaction. I am surprised halliburton wasn't mentioned too.
In urban areas around the state of Florida, civil trial attorneys were picketing at polling sites with voting leaflets indicating democratic voting issues. On the front of the pamphlet, it had the federal, state, and local democrats running for office. ON THE BACK, it had the amendments listed with the proposed DEMOCRATIC way of voting on them (No on 3 *limits for trial attorney fees*, and Yes on 7 & 8). One friend of mine, a resident who lives in the urban area, heard people saying "Oh yeah, no on 3 and yes on 7 & 8 after receiving the leaflets." Granted, the trial attorneys may have been suggesting what they think the democratic way was on these amendments but the message was clear.
As for Jeb and the FMA, from what I hear, the plan is to fight the constitutionality of each amendment. I really don't know how successful it will be but it appears the fight against the bills prior to the vote was considered a losing battle because the writing seemed so agreeable.
It appears the effect has begun. I learned from an ob/gyn that the peer review process in their practice has stopped. Also, doctors are already beginning to apply for licenses in other states.
😡

 

[Mirror Form]

Always remember that insurance companies should be to blame for things like this also.

Please, provide some evidence on this! I'm a little skeptical though, since it's a FACT that florida med mal insurance companies have been paying out the same amount in claims that they've been collecting in med mal insurance fees. So, how exactly are they the problem then???? Basically you're just one more sucker health professional that gladly accepted the bullsh*t propaganda of trial laywers.

 

[Non-Trad DO]

Of course they've been paying out the same... why, because there is no profit at the end of the year. Like the professional sports teams, hospital systems and other not for profit type business systems that claim they've made no money at the end of the year or even lost money because they've payed out all of their excess in exorbitant salaries bone-uses and stock dividends or valuations on their stock at the end of the year insurances are doing a "service" to the community in their quest however, most of this is not available to the general public because of the way Floridas "Sunshine Laws" are worded
I agree, a lot of people have been tricked or, as you put it, suckered, by trial attornys but if you think they are the only ones doing "business" in this controversy I'm afraid you my fellow American are the sucker. 😉
PS: I'm not certain you've ever set foot in the ghetto. 🙂

 

[droliver]

Wasn't there also a ballot initiative passed in Florida which limited the % of settlements that plaintiff attorney's can take?

 

[Non-Trad DO]

yes, its a graded system.

 

[Mirror Form]

Of course they've been paying out the same... why, because there is no profit at the end of the year. Like the professional sports teams, hospital systems and other not for profit type business systems that claim they've made no money at the end of the year or even lost money because they've payed out all of their excess in exorbitant salaries bone-uses and stock dividends or valuations on their stock at the end of the year insurances are doing a "service" to the community in their quest however, most of this is not available to the general public because of the way Floridas "Sunshine Laws" are worded
I agree, a lot of people have been tricked or, as you put it, suckered, by trial attornys but if you think they are the only ones doing "business" in this controversy I'm afraid you my fellow American are the sucker. 😉
PS: I'm not certain you've ever set foot in the ghetto. 🙂

Now you're just making things up. Do you know ANYTHING about the insurance industry? I wasn't talking about zero profits! I was talking about literally paying out the exact same amount (actually, usually more) of money to claims, as they collected from doctors. Every cent of their overhead and profits simply comes from floating on the interest. So considering that the insurance companies pay out the same amount they take in and simply float off of the interest, I don't see how they're behind the big crisis. It's just common sense.

Here's a somewhat misguided article on Florida's med mal crisis. I don't like the commentary much (obviously written by people that don't know much about health care), but the numbers are accurate:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3913&stc=1

Now isn't it better to argue with data then to just accept and repeat whatever your friendly ATLA publicist wrote?

EDIT: And oh yeah, while we're talking about commone sense . . . tons of lawyers are going into med mal. Heck, in some states about half of the tv commercials you see are from med mal attorneys. But how many new med mal insurace companies are sprouting up each year? None. Every year it seems another insurance company stops offering med mal. This isn't a sign of a lucrative field (duh). Once again, it's just common sense. But thanks to ATLA's support of the dnc, people just love to ignore it and somehow try and place the blame on those evil big companies and republicans.

 

[Obedeli]

Of course they've been paying out the same... why, because there is no profit at the end of the year. Like the professional sports teams, hospital systems and other not for profit type business systems that claim they've made no money at the end of the year or even lost money because they've payed out all of their excess in exorbitant salaries bone-uses and stock dividends or valuations on their stock at the end of the year insurances are doing a "service" to the community in their quest however, most of this is not available to the general public because of the way Floridas "Sunshine Laws" are worded
I agree, a lot of people have been tricked or, as you put it, suckered, by trial attornys but if you think they are the only ones doing "business" in this controversy I'm afraid you my fellow American are the sucker. 😉

This is nuts. Here are some facts for you oh factless wonder. In 1995, there were 40 malpractice insurance companies doing business in florida. As of 2002, there were only 3 and two were not even taking new policies. They are losing money in florida, for every dollar gained in premiums, 2 were lost in settlements and costs.

PS: I'm not certain you've ever set foot in the ghetto

😱
This is the most self righteous, self pious load of crap I have ever seen. Tell me Mother Teresa, let's talk "just how poor you can get" as if this would answer or verify some position. How the HECK does stepping foot in ghetto do anything except to make you think "oh, how noble of you, only by this means can one begin to understand the plight." I don't know how, in the desolute poverty from which you crawled that you can manage to find a computer to type on. But do all of us a favor and head back the soup kitchen, but you can continue broadcasting all your great works so everyone can see what a "good" person you are.
This type of mentality reminds me of a monty python sketch were 5 millionaires sit around trying to out do one another on their poor background. It really got funny when one them said.
"I grew up in lake"
"We would have dreamed to live in a lake."

 

[bgibney]

While both 7 and 8 passed by about a 80-20 margin, it would have been interesting to see how they would have fared had the amenments been stated in such a way that voting yes would have been the opposite of what 7 and 8 say, i.e. for 7 say "this amendment, if passed, would allow doctors to report adverse events," or something to that regard. I say this because most amendments pass anyways (in FLA this year 7/8 did pass), so I am curious if reversing the wording would have brought those numbers down.

By the way, both the FMA and FOMA actively advertised Yes on 3, nary a thing was said about 7 and 8. 😕

 

[Hudson]

As a Florida medical student, I had planned on doing my residency and practicing in Florida, but I highly doubt I will stay now.
As mentioned earlier, both 7 and 8 passed overwhelmingly (>70%). The FMA has already challenged both amendments in court and they will have to go through legislation to be enacted. Concerning amendment 3 (limiting lawyer's fees), it was self-enacting and therefore went into law Tuesday night, but will likely be contested by the Florida bar.

Do you know when these amendments are slated to go through the legislative process. Also, why was amendment 3 self-enacting while 7 & 8 were not? I apologize for my lack of knowledge, but am curious as to how much of a chance 7 & 8 have of becoming law. I thought that they were law by virtue of them being "ratified" by the public last week.

 

[AznTrojan]

any idea how this will affect resident physicians??

 

[Non-Trad DO]

obedeli and sledge, (sorry to everyone else),
501c3 status really isn't that difficult to come by particularly if the corporation is serving a vital need to the community (hospital, insurance, sports teams to generate income for the local economy etc.). I only know how this stuff works because I lived it for seven years with Memorial Health Systems in Volusia county as a medical technologist befor I got into medical school.
I don't claim to be Mother Teresaesque either but thank you for the compliment obe. As far as self rightous or pious I'm neither ask my friends, oh wait thats right you don't know me other than my profile. Your assessment of my personality is way off, hopefully your not going into psychiatry. I'm simply trying to see if this person is really located in the ghetto because, though they are rare, I've run into right wingers there on occasion.
If we're going to work through this mal prac. crisis y'all need to try working with the facts in the frame of reality and not just through right wing election dogma and emotion. Unless of course your both insurance agents in which case I could understand your venom toward me. Obe, ordering me back to the soup kitchen is despicable and in my opinion, as a Christian, demonic. I have a computer now because I've busted my ass to get to where I am. 😉 I do believe I am a good person thank you for that.

 

[Mirror Form]

obedeli and sledge, (sorry to everyone else),
501c3 status really isn't that difficult to come by particularly if the corporation is serving a vital need to the community (hospital, insurance, sports teams to generate income for the local economy etc.). I only know how this stuff works because I lived it for seven years with Memorial Health Systems in Volusia county as a medical technologist befor I got into medical school.
I don't claim to be Mother Teresaesque either but thank you for the compliment obe. As far as self rightous or pious I'm neither ask my friends, oh wait thats right you don't know me other than my profile. Your assessment of my personality is way off, hopefully your not going into psychiatry. I'm simply trying to see if this person is really located in the ghetto because, though they are rare, I've run into right wingers there on occasion.
If we're going to work through this mal prac. crisis y'all need to try working with the facts in the frame of reality and not just through right wing election dogma and emotion. Unless of course your both insurance agents in which case I could understand your venom toward me. Obe, ordering me back to the soup kitchen is despicable and in my opinion, as a Christian, demonic. I have a computer now because I've busted my ass to get to where I am. 😉 I do believe I am a good person thank you for that.

That's all nice, but where is your evidence to support your previous claims? Why is it that insurance companies have been leaving the med mal industry in droves? Is it because their profits are too high? Sorry for the sarcasm, but I get really pissed at how easily health professionals just buy into the dnc's BS excuses about their stance on med mal. Obviously there are many issues to decide whether you support the right or the left. But med mal is one issue where the left is just in plain denial about what their side is doing.

As to your previous question, I wasn't born and raised in "the ghetto." I did live there for three years during med school. However, I'm not really sure what that has to do with the current topic.

 

[mosche]

Before I comment, let me assure everyone that I have never lived in a ghetto -- though I have occasionally driven through a bad part of Knoxville ! Further, I am no Mother Theresa, though I think she wore some very smart smocks -- you just can't go wrong with basic black!

That having been established, I will say that the insurance companies do bear some responsibility. How? By insisting that doctors settle out of court. I teach LSAT classes at Kaplan, and many of my students work for "ambulance chasers". We've discussed this topic ad nauseum, and they assure me that their bosses expect the insurance companies to settle. By doing so, they manage to limit their damages -- by bypassing over-reaching juries.Further, even if physicians believe that they would be exonerated by a fair trial, they are unable to take their case to court, because the insurance company will inform the physician that they will have to "go it alone".

One last point: physicians bear some responsibility as well. Why do some physicians travel cross state/country to serve as "professional witnesses" for those same ambulance chasers? I mean, is it just me, or is it ironic that we point our fingers at greedy trial lawyers; and yet we drop everything to travel to a trial, testify -- for $$$ -- and then wonder what went wrong!

Just a few points that I've pondered. I do not claim to have a handle/answer; but, we are all, presumably, on the same side.

MOSCHE

P.S. I'm a nice guy, be gentle 😍

 

[mosche]

YES! I know she wore white, IT'S A JOKE! Get it. HA! HA! That's my point, it's kinda petty 😀

 

[docB]

That having been established, I will say that the insurance companies do bear some responsibility. How? By insisting that doctors settle out of court. I teach LSAT classes at Kaplan, and many of my students work for "ambulance chasers". We've discussed this topic ad nauseum, and they assure me that their bosses expect the insurance companies to settle. By doing so, they manage to limit their damages -- by bypassing over-reaching juries.Further, even if physicians believe that they would be exonerated by a fair trial, they are unable to take their case to court, because the insurance company will inform the physician that they will have to "go it alone".

I agree with this but that's as far as I would go in blaming the insurance companies. I think the arguments of those who blame the crisis on insurers or split the blame equally between the lawyers and the insurers are flat out wrong. If a lawyer sues me and my insurance company pays him and then raises my rates those people would point to the amount of the rate increase as the main problem. That's crap. The problem is the suit and the payout.

One last point: physicians bear some responsibility as well. Why do some physicians travel cross state/country to serve as "professional witnesses" for those same ambulance chasers? I mean, is it just me, or is it ironic that we point our fingers at greedy trial lawyers; and yet we drop everything to travel to a trial, testify -- for $$$ -- and then wonder what went wrong!

This is not true of everyone. Many of us (if not most) refuse to ***** ourselves in this way. My group has a policy of not testifying against other EPs. With the med mal climate the way that it is no doc should ever testify against another.

 

[jvarga]

Although I'd love to see the day when doctors don't testify against each other, we all know that this is only going to happen in an ideal world. In the mean time, we're all going to have to make do with the system that we are working under and try to improve it from a realistic perspective. Yes the malpractice issue is a multifactorial one everybody has their share of guilt in letting it get out of hand. The insurance companies with their greed, the patients who have been victimized trying to capitalize on "pain and suffering", the many "so called" victims that hope any medical ailment or condition could be blamed on their doctor, the greedy and unethical lawyers who chase ambulances and continuosly encourage their clients to seek astronomical rewards, and, yes, even the doctors (gasp- 😱 ) whose mistakes (either honest or due to incompetence or laziness) started the whole cascade.
How do we solve this? I have no earthly idea. We are in quite the pretzel! However, I can say that Ammendments 7 and 8 are not working towards any progress. I do not see how these will help the situation any. Ammendment 7 is pretty much harmless, but ammendment 8 is just plain nonsensical. If this one holds, I suggest that the AMA propose a similar ammendment to limit the real "repeat offenders"--lawyers with their frivolous suits. If a doctor could lose a license after three awards against him/her, then a lawyer should be disbarred if they present three frivolous lawsuits (lifetime). I bet that would change the litiginous climate of the country and drive insurance rates down.
Just a simple idea to help a complex problem!

 

[Obedeli]

Obe, ordering me back to the soup kitchen is despicable and in my opinion, as a Christian, demonic. I have a computer now because I've busted my ass to get to where I am. 😉 I do believe I am a good person thank you for that.

I KNOW you think you are good person. Isn't that obvious! Liberals like you wear charity on their sleeves and stuff it in everyone's faces. That is what makes you an elitist. Apparently, pre-judging people comes in quick with your types as well; the nerve of you assuming right away that I was not born poor. What a good person you are. Let's hope everyone gives up a moment to recognize you.
It looks like you are hinting at trying to "out-poor" me. Well, it won't work. I will not engage you or inquire to hear about your background. I don't care if you grew up in lake. I don't care at all. I don't think you can even begin to understand that. I think it is far more respectable to climb far in life, without having to point it out to everyone. It loses all value when you randomly throw it out for people to ponder. At that point, it becomes all ego and you were pathetic to bring it up.
At issue about insurance companies; if you hadn't bothered about ghetto traipsing, your point has some validity in the grander scheme of med mal. However, with specific regards to these amendments and the crisis in Florida, the trial attorneys union HAS far more to do with the problems them insurance companies.

 

[Obedeli]

Ammendment 7 is pretty much harmless

Amendment 7 is not harmless. It has ALREADY begun to stop the peer review process. Amendment 7 is the one many feel is the worst!

 

[Gut Shot]

I KNOW you think you are good person. Isn't that obvious! Liberals like you wear charity on their sleeves and stuff it in everyone's faces.

Nothing keeps the level of discussion high quite like name calling. For instance, since you are insulting someone by referring to them as "liberal" (which is odd, since we all know that liberals hate religion, especially Christianity), I have no choice but to conclude that you are an anti-liberal, i.e. a gun-toting tax-decrying evilution-denying war-loving Bible-thumping gay-bashing get-back-in-the-kitchen-and-make-me-some-pie neo-fascist.

 

[jvarga]

In my opinion, and that of most Florida practitioners I know, Ammendment 7 is not the one we need to worry about. Yes, it may TEMPORARILY change the way we review our own, but, in the long run, we will find a way to work around this. Besides do you know how easy it is to attain a doctors lawsuit history, even before this ammendment was even created? As I mentioned previously, this ammendment will not significantly change the overall climate of our medical system. However, when you compare it to the possible ramifications of Ammendment 8, then you can see why I said it was pretty much harmless. If the AMA needs to concentrate its forces to counteract, I would think the most logical target should be ammendment 8.
Having said my piece, remember this is just my opinion. You don't have to agree with it or even like it. The reality is, I am not alone since this seems to be the general consensus amongst the practicing physicians I know (nothing official--yet).

 

[mosche]

In my opinion, and that of most Florida practitioners I know, Ammendment 7 is not the one we need to worry about. Yes, it may TEMPORARILY change the way we review our own, but, in the long run, we will find a way to work around this. Besides do you know how easy it is to attain a doctors lawsuit history, even before this ammendment was even created? As I mentioned previously, this ammendment will not significantly change the overall climate of our medical system. However, when you compare it to the possible ramifications of Ammendment 8, then you can see why I said it was pretty much harmless. If the AMA needs to concentrate its forces to counteract, I would think the most logical target should be ammendment 8.
Having said my piece, remember this is just my opinion. You don't have to agree with it or even like it. The reality is, I am not alone since this seems to be the general consensus amongst the practicing physicians I know (nothing official--yet).

Eloquently stated! DocB, ditto to your response to my last posting.Civility is a good thing 🙂 .

 

[Obedeli]

In my opinion, and that of most Florida practitioners I know, Ammendment 7 is not the one we need to worry about. Yes, it may TEMPORARILY change the way we review our own, but, in the long run, we will find a way to work around this. Besides do you know how easy it is to attain a doctors lawsuit history, even before this ammendment was even created? As I mentioned previously, this ammendment will not significantly change the overall climate of our medical system. However, when you compare it to the possible ramifications of Ammendment 8, then you can see why I said it was pretty much harmless. If the AMA needs to concentrate its forces to counteract, I would think the most logical target should be ammendment 8.
Having said my piece, remember this is just my opinion. You don't have to agree with it or even like it. The reality is, I am not alone since this seems to be the general consensus amongst the practicing physicians I know (nothing official--yet).

This is open to debate, but from a residency standpoint, the peer review process being affected has direct ramifications. I don't know how we are going to "get around" amendment 7, but I am not doubting that something may be found. The question is HOW temporary. Only time will tell who was right and who is wrong.
Havart666 - I must have struck a nerve. good!
😀

 

[pikachu]

Someone asked an interesting question a while back and it kind of got lost: What are the chances of the popular votes on these proposals being made actual law? I'm not familiar with the way referendum proposals work in Florida. Curious because 3/5 of my residency interviews right now are in Florida...

 

[Non-Trad DO]

Obe,
Everything that has been said about my political personality or political alignment on this thread has been stated by you. I've only confirmed or denied your ASSUMPTIONS. Please if you are going to waste everyone times with wrong judgements read the previous posts and try to make accurate judgements not just typical right wing half truths and flat out lies. Everyone on this sight knows that you and Rush are the only true Americans in this country. 🙂

 

[Non-Trad DO]

Sledge,
I, and I'll repeat this, was simply trying to find out if you are indeed from the ghetto for the reason I've stated. You are right, it doesn't really have anythiong to do with this topic.
Anytime any body tells me they are paying exactly what they took in I immediately suspect that it is a not for profit business, or bonuses have been paid out, money has been dumped into research etc... to balance the ledger.
What ever the reason fro the "crisis" mal prac insurance companies are still part of the equation and can not be totally factored out. Insuance companies, as you know, employ many accountants and tax attornies beside the other cogs that make the company run and knowing the way business is run (a profit- seeking enterprise or concern) it wouldn't suprise me to learn that some tax loop hole(s) aren't being used in a most benign manner. Example could include sections 503 and 506 of the US IRS code. I have no knowledge of this directly. I am guessing but to completely r/o the insurance companies as bistanders based on thier statements alone is ludicrous.

 

[Non-Trad DO]

Most companies go out of business because they don't have enough customers or because they are poorly managed. 😉

 

[Non-Trad DO]

This three strikes crap has got to go. This is like saying that any business that has lost three lawsuits is out of business, never to return again. This idea would have meant the end for many companies that are still in business today, hell the government itself would be out of business. Hell with the deficit we're running it might still go out of business 😀

 

[freelancewriter]

On the AP wire today, Florida's three strikes amendment has been put on hold by a circuit court judge:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&scoring=d&q=florida+malpractice+license