Profession
Liability insurance premiums a major reason for physicians leaving Pa.
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 25, 2005
High medical liability insurance rates are the leading reason why new physicians are leaving Pennsylvania, according to a new study sponsored by the Project on Medical Liability in Pennsylvania.
The survey gathered responses from about 360 residents in several specialties, including general surgery, obstetrics and orthopedics. About three-fourths of the respondents said they were planning to leave the state after completing training.
Almost half of the doctors planning to leave said it was due to high cost of liability insurance. High insurance rates received more than three times as many responses as any other possible reason for leaving, including quality of life, living near family, and salary, according to the survey.
Results of the survey were published in this month's Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Project on Medical Liability in Pennsylvania is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/25/prbf0725.htm.
