Opinion
Mississippi needs more tort reform
LETTER — Posted March 28, 2005
Regarding "Liability premium shock spreads" (Article, Jan. 31): Your article states that Mississippi physicians are a little better off today than in 2001. I disagree!
This state's bill was little more than a Band-Aid. Last year I had a 40% premium increase, and when renewal for my premium was up in November, I was to have another 100% increase. My response was to stop practicing obstetrics. I would love to have the same premium I had in 2001.
Please do not sugar-coat this. Meaningful tort reform for the obstetricians of Mississippi has not occurred. The Mississippi State Medical Assn. must continue to pursue this on a state level, and the AMA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists need to increase the pressure on Congress on a national level.
Keith Goodfellow, MD, Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/03/28/edlt0328.htm.