Profession
Liability crisis forcing patients to change physicians
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 4, 2004
One in four Pennsylvania residents surveyed said their family had been forced to change physicians last year because a doctor was faced with rising medical liability insurance premiums.
Among those surveyed in the IssuesPA/Pew Poll released in September:
- 16% saw their doctor move his or her practice outside of Pennsylvania.
- 10% had a physician stop providing certain medical services or treating certain illnesses.
- 9% had a physician stop practicing medicine.
- 8% saw a doctor move his or her practice to another part of the state.
Patients in southeastern Pennsylvania were most likely to change physicians, the survey showed. In that region, 31% had to find a new doctor because of medical liability issues. In south central Pennsylvania, 19% of those surveyed were affected.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/10/04/prbf1004.htm.
Copyright © 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
