Thursday, June 17, 2004
Four Players, one pest
The irrelevant diatribes you read at this site, will not stop, or even slow, the injustices committed against humanity. The dissertations written on, or about, the current administration, will have no effect on the election. In fact, my bad grammar and misspelled words will probably inflame more people than my messages. Then again, it is my Blogsite, and it feels great to vent my frustration. Here is a new twist on an old subject, an avenue previously not taken, but one that is not surprising.
The malpractice debate continues. Recently, our politicians approved a law limiting the amount an individual can receive from an insurance company in a malpractice lawsuit. This dispute has four major players, and one inconsequential pest. First of the players are politicians who make laws that favor special interest groups. Second, the insurance companies with large sums of money for campaign contributions. Third, are the Doctors themselves. Their own AMA has never admitted to having an incompetent Doctor in their midst. Fourth, are lawyers who can receive 40%, or more, of any settlement reached in a lawsuit. Who is the pest? It is the common everyday man or woman, the lowly taxpayer. The one who pays all the bills.
This debate has taken a strange twist. It seems some Doctors are refusing to treat trial lawyers or their relatives. They said, they don’t believe it violates the Hippocratic oath. One Doctor, Dr. Clinton Miller stated, “ If somebody takes a position that is very deleterious to your welfare, you have a right not to do business with him.” Doctors blame the attorneys and their malpractice suits for causing huge increases in insurance premiums. The lawyers blame it on the insurance industry.
That brings us back to the politicians who promised the new legislation would lower insurance premiums. Our elected officials are in a dilemma. Not because they upset voters. The quandary exist, because each of the groups, Doctors, Lawyers, and Insurance companies, are represented by very powerful lobbyist with tons of money to donate. I think it is a safe bet they wont offend the Insurers, they have the most money up for grabs. One thing is for certain. Whatever the outcome, the inconsequential pest will be the one who pays for it.
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The malpractice debate continues. Recently, our politicians approved a law limiting the amount an individual can receive from an insurance company in a malpractice lawsuit. This dispute has four major players, and one inconsequential pest. First of the players are politicians who make laws that favor special interest groups. Second, the insurance companies with large sums of money for campaign contributions. Third, are the Doctors themselves. Their own AMA has never admitted to having an incompetent Doctor in their midst. Fourth, are lawyers who can receive 40%, or more, of any settlement reached in a lawsuit. Who is the pest? It is the common everyday man or woman, the lowly taxpayer. The one who pays all the bills.
This debate has taken a strange twist. It seems some Doctors are refusing to treat trial lawyers or their relatives. They said, they don’t believe it violates the Hippocratic oath. One Doctor, Dr. Clinton Miller stated, “ If somebody takes a position that is very deleterious to your welfare, you have a right not to do business with him.” Doctors blame the attorneys and their malpractice suits for causing huge increases in insurance premiums. The lawyers blame it on the insurance industry.
That brings us back to the politicians who promised the new legislation would lower insurance premiums. Our elected officials are in a dilemma. Not because they upset voters. The quandary exist, because each of the groups, Doctors, Lawyers, and Insurance companies, are represented by very powerful lobbyist with tons of money to donate. I think it is a safe bet they wont offend the Insurers, they have the most money up for grabs. One thing is for certain. Whatever the outcome, the inconsequential pest will be the one who pays for it.
