Opinion
Pa. needs liability reform to keep its doctors -- and their economic benefit
LETTER — Posted Dec. 15, 2008
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.