Opinion

Pa. needs liability reform to keep its doctors -- and their economic benefit

LETTER — Posted Dec. 15, 2008

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Regarding "Doctors tally the economic value practices bring to communities" (Article, Nov. 10) and "Pennsylvania health system reform hits snag over coverage, liability help" (Article, Nov. 10): I hope that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell reads the article on the economic value physicians bring to their communities and states. It is hard to miss the irony of that front-page story when inside Gov. Rendell insists he will not back extending support for physicians in their mandated payment into the Mcare (Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error) Fund.

I was the top-volume surgeon in my county in western Pennsylvania the year I left, five years ago, for a state that had the courage and foresight to pass comprehensive professional liability reform -- California.

Without true professional liability reform, Pennsylvania will remain a place where it will be extremely difficult to recruit and retain physicians, all to the detriment of the patients and the economy.

Paul Burton, DO, Redlands, Calif.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/15/edlt1215.htm.

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