Healthcare Hall of Shame
As Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week comes to a close, we’re calling attention to the personal injury lawyers’ attack on our healthcare system, which has had detrimental effects on the quality of care, driven up costs and created a shortage of doctors in many areas of the country. While many of the malpractice and healthcare-related suits filed are just, we wanted to point out some examples that make up our “Healthcare Hall of Shame.”
Doctors Leave PA in Droves
Thanks to the high damage amounts awarded in malpractice lawsuits, doctors have been leaving Pennsylvania for years in search of affordable malpractice insurance. In 2007, figures showed that only eight percent of the doctors who train at Pennsylvania medical schools end up staying and practicing in this state and the percentage of Pennsylvania doctors younger than 35 had been dropping for 15 years, standing at a disturbingly low three percent in 2007. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 2007
Snakes are Dangerous?
In 2007, A Kentucky woman’s family sued a local hospital for failing to treat her in a timely manner. Linda Long died after a venomous rattlesnake bit her on the cheek while she was handling it at her church. As a “snake handler,” Long believed that venomous serpents would not harm faithful congregation members. Snake handling is illegal in Kentucky. USA Today - On Deadline, November 2007
Sued for Saving Baby
A Washington state couple filed a malpractice lawsuit against their obstetrician in 2004, claiming the doctor was negligent when he resuscitated their baby after he was born without a heartbeat. The baby survived but is permanently brain damaged; his parents say the doctor should not have resuscitated him. The state Supreme Court ruled the doctor can’t be held liable, because he was just doing his job. Associated Press, November 2007
Where’s the Sense of Responsibility?
In 2005, an Ohio jury recently ruled that a Cleveland doctor was liable for $3.5 million because he didn't do enough to help his patient lose weight and stop smoking, and thus avoid a fatal heart attack. American Medical News, May 2005
Comments
What Should Be
W.P.Koch &mdash Oct 8th, 2010 - 11:53am
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN Congress and the White House should stop squandering the people’s money and use savings to improve quality of basic invested entitlements. Preserve the 2010 tax schedule. Congress should refurbish health care. Vote opponents to this “out”. Citizens come first. It is time the U.S. decreases its human rites and police activities for the World by lobbying the United Nations, NATO and Interpol to “take on more”. 800 bases in 63 countries across the world should be reduced. Starting with Iraq, continue training for self reliance. After a surge in Afghanistan repeat above and remove corruption starting with monitoring accounts, substituting minerals mining and food crops for drugs. Reduce forces in selected areas such as Germany, Bosnia and Okinawa. Cut bloated federal bureaucracy. Combine CDC, EPA and FDA. Combine the FAA, NHTSA and Transportation Department. Combine GAO and CBO. Phase in outsourcing. Departments should eliminate “must spend all”. Return “unused” yearly budget to the treasury. Eliminate all 32 CZARS Mr. president. Reduce your 469 member staff which makes nearly 39 million per year! Halt first lady $180,000 air force one vacation trips. Contribute to only one of: The World Bank or International Monetary Fund or U.S. Agency for International Development. Reduce foreign aid bribery. For example, no aid to oil rich -Iraq. $37 billion and increasing with $8.6 billion of Iraq development funds not accounted for. Charge bailed companies (TARP) for the huge executive bonuses at taxpayer expense. Government should sell its shares to recoup for taxpayer. About $154 billion owed. Congress should reduce the “stimulus” and monetary expenditures by halting non relevant earmarks and vote bribery. Do not pay student loans for congressional staff. Please- no private or military jets for congress including Pelosi’s family at taxpayer expense. Congress should set commercial travel cost standards and controls. Reduce medical cost by: allowing purchasing from any U.S. corporation, “tort reform”, and reducing “red tape”. Trace funds to local providers for expediting billing cost speed, reviews and fraud reduction. Federal government should enforce existing immigration laws. Complete the improved fence. Entitlements or benefits should be for only citizens. Deport criminal “illegals”. Only workers on a Visa Program qualify for needed medical benefits Improve medical expense tax deduction for citizens reaching age 65. Provide corporations tax reduction incentives for hiring with healthcare. The savings will improve funding for:” Medicare”, “Medicaid, and “Veteran’s Affairs”. Healthcare quality should be at least that for Congress or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). A final result is dental coverage, improved visual coverage, no drug “donut hole”, no deductibles and co-pays except for extended skilled level nursing. These actions will allow aid for unemployment compensation and Social Security with cost of living increases.