Comments on: Murtha the Victim of Medical Malpractice http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/ Ground zero for all things political in Delaware Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:42:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: h. http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173221 h. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:41:35 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173221 Was the doctor military or civilian? Was the doctor military or civilian?

]]> By: Pete http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173198 Pete Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:52:53 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173198 I'm not sure Murtha's colon wasn't intentionally snipped. Who was the surgeon? I’m not sure Murtha’s colon wasn’t intentionally snipped. Who was the surgeon?

]]> By: cassandra_m http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173189 cassandra_m Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:06:30 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173189 The savings is lower than 2%, but there are ways of doing some tort reform that are genuinely fairer -- but restricting patients' and families' access to legal redress is not one of them. Even President Obama has been known to talk about the health courts idea or the disclose and apologize model among others. But much of the solution also relies on changing the care model to one that values outcomes over number of services rendered. Because part of the problem with the piecemeal model is that it is often ALOT easier to just hand a nervous patient a bunch of scripts for tests and drugs than it is to take time to talk, explain and reassure. Scripts can be done in 15 minutes -- talking can take alot longer. The savings is lower than 2%, but there are ways of doing some tort reform that are genuinely fairer — but restricting patients’ and families’ access to legal redress is not one of them. Even President Obama has been known to talk about the health courts idea or the disclose and apologize model among others. But much of the solution also relies on changing the care model to one that values outcomes over number of services rendered. Because part of the problem with the piecemeal model is that it is often ALOT easier to just hand a nervous patient a bunch of scripts for tests and drugs than it is to take time to talk, explain and reassure. Scripts can be done in 15 minutes — talking can take alot longer.

]]> By: donviti http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173187 donviti Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:38:18 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173187 I think we should have tort reform and the CEO's that want it should have their Salaries capped too. I think we should have tort reform and the CEO’s that want it should have their Salaries capped too.

]]> By: Geezer http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173186 Geezer Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:26:05 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173186 Ah, the balmy breeze of ignorance. If only it melted snow. Ah, the balmy breeze of ignorance. If only it melted snow.

]]> By: Republican David http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173184 Republican David Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:08:47 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173184 Government Healthcare Government Healthcare

]]> By: Geezer http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173183 Geezer Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:07:33 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173183 If the actual lawsuits and premiums are 2%, Joanne, how much do you think "defensive medicine" adds? More than that? If that test is on you, is it just as unnecessary as when it's a statistic? For every hypochondriac who overuses health care, there's someone reluctant to visit the doctor, even when they should. I know an 84-year-old who, because he never wanted to get a colonoscopy, recently underwent surgery to remove a softball-sized tumor from his colon. Which leads to the irony here: Both overuse and underuse of the health care system lead to higher overall costs. Everybody wants to pay less for health care, but very few want to actually die. That, not lawsuits, drives the steep increase in costs. If the actual lawsuits and premiums are 2%, Joanne, how much do you think “defensive medicine” adds? More than that? If that test is on you, is it just as unnecessary as when it’s a statistic?

For every hypochondriac who overuses health care, there’s someone reluctant to visit the doctor, even when they should. I know an 84-year-old who, because he never wanted to get a colonoscopy, recently underwent surgery to remove a softball-sized tumor from his colon. Which leads to the irony here: Both overuse and underuse of the health care system lead to higher overall costs.

Everybody wants to pay less for health care, but very few want to actually die. That, not lawsuits, drives the steep increase in costs.

]]> By: Joanne Christian http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173181 Joanne Christian Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:09:13 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173181 Malpractice may be 2% of healthcare--but defensive medicine is a cost greater than that. Ask any practitioner who gets a patient in with a headache--doesn't matter if it was just for today--or the last 3 months--it's "light 'em up" w/ scans, MRIs, and xrays. A cheap alternative would be Excedrin first--but everyone reads WEB MD, and has some personal affiliation w/ Natasha Richardson. These folks who are so pro health care reform at whatever cost, will need to realize the days of "zebra hunting" will be over. Malpractice may be 2% of healthcare–but defensive medicine is a cost greater than that. Ask any practitioner who gets a patient in with a headache–doesn’t matter if it was just for today–or the last 3 months–it’s “light ‘em up” w/ scans, MRIs, and xrays. A cheap alternative would be Excedrin first–but everyone reads WEB MD, and has some personal affiliation w/ Natasha Richardson. These folks who are so pro health care reform at whatever cost, will need to realize the days of “zebra hunting” will be over.

]]> By: anon http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173180 anon Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:44 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173180 <i>Studies by the GAO have found that malpractice is only 2% of the cost of healthcare. If we want to reform healthcare we really should be looking at this things that make a bigger difference.</i> UI - I agree, but I really hate this argument. Dems should not put themselves in the position of arguing against a 2% cost savings. We should be against GOP style tort reform on its merits, not because it doesn't save enough money. Don't concede the Republican frame. Make them debate our frame - that their tort reform is a corruption of our legal rights, and a loss of protection for patients. Studies by the GAO have found that malpractice is only 2% of the cost of healthcare. If we want to reform healthcare we really should be looking at this things that make a bigger difference.

UI – I agree, but I really hate this argument. Dems should not put themselves in the position of arguing against a 2% cost savings. We should be against GOP style tort reform on its merits, not because it doesn’t save enough money.

Don’t concede the Republican frame. Make them debate our frame – that their tort reform is a corruption of our legal rights, and a loss of protection for patients.

]]> By: Unstable Isotope http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173179 Unstable Isotope Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:24:04 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173179 Exactly Cassandra, because those of us looking from the outside see a system that goes for protecting its members first and the public second. Then those same people are saying WE should be the ones to give up legal rights. Studies by the GAO have found that malpractice is only 2% of the cost of healthcare. If we want to reform healthcare we really should be looking at this things that make a bigger difference. Tort reform is just a soapbox issue for Republicans. Exactly Cassandra, because those of us looking from the outside see a system that goes for protecting its members first and the public second. Then those same people are saying WE should be the ones to give up legal rights.

Studies by the GAO have found that malpractice is only 2% of the cost of healthcare. If we want to reform healthcare we really should be looking at this things that make a bigger difference. Tort reform is just a soapbox issue for Republicans.

]]> By: anon http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173178 anon Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:19:42 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173178 Obama blew his Baltimore answer on tort reform big time. He said he would consider working with Repubs on it, and acknowledged that it would reduce costs. But he failed to make the point that the cost savings are not worth giving up our legal rights, and are not worth the resulting reduction in incentive against malpractice. The court system already has mechanisms for dropping frivolous cases. Plus, no lawyer can afford to have a reputation for bringing frivolous claims. Dems should maybe propose their own malpractice reform that addresses insurance reforms and medical practice reforms, but leaves our legal right of redress intact. Obama blew his Baltimore answer on tort reform big time. He said he would consider working with Repubs on it, and acknowledged that it would reduce costs. But he failed to make the point that the cost savings are not worth giving up our legal rights, and are not worth the resulting reduction in incentive against malpractice.

The court system already has mechanisms for dropping frivolous cases. Plus, no lawyer can afford to have a reputation for bringing frivolous claims.

Dems should maybe propose their own malpractice reform that addresses insurance reforms and medical practice reforms, but leaves our legal right of redress intact.

]]> By: cassandra_m http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173177 cassandra_m Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:04:00 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173177 I'm not so sure I agree with limiting damages or in limiting of punitive damages. Locally, it is beginning to look like there were a great many people in the medical profession who knew or suspected something very wrong about Bradley. It seems to me that you trade in some of those limitations in exchange for more vigilant policing by the profession itself. And how about the nurse in Texas who did report a local doctor for various acts of malfeasance? She is the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123502251" rel="nofollow">one on trial</a> for reporting the doctor. The entire system of doctor and nurse accountability could be reformed, but I would not be in the business of changing malpractice law until I knew that doctors did not routinely look away from the Bradley's of this world. I’m not so sure I agree with limiting damages or in limiting of punitive damages. Locally, it is beginning to look like there were a great many people in the medical profession who knew or suspected something very wrong about Bradley. It seems to me that you trade in some of those limitations in exchange for more vigilant policing by the profession itself. And how about the nurse in Texas who did report a local doctor for various acts of malfeasance? She is the one on trial for reporting the doctor.

The entire system of doctor and nurse accountability could be reformed, but I would not be in the business of changing malpractice law until I knew that doctors did not routinely look away from the Bradley’s of this world.

]]> By: Delaware Dem http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173176 Delaware Dem Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:53:21 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173176 I agree. I am all for limiting damages depending on the injury. And I don't think punitive damages should ever be imposed for malpractice. But the right to sue and recover must always be available. I agree. I am all for limiting damages depending on the injury. And I don’t think punitive damages should ever be imposed for malpractice. But the right to sue and recover must always be available.

]]> By: Unstable Isotope http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/09/murtha-the-victim-of-medical-malpractice/#comment-173175 Unstable Isotope Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:49:00 +0000 http://www.delawareliberal.net/?p=34468#comment-173175 Exactly, that's why I'm suspicious of tort reform. I think there should actually be "malpractice reform." I've read that 10% of physicians are responsible for 90% of medical mistakes. Instead of looking at the victims, perhaps we should address the people who make the mistakes. Exactly, that’s why I’m suspicious of tort reform. I think there should actually be “malpractice reform.” I’ve read that 10% of physicians are responsible for 90% of medical mistakes. Instead of looking at the victims, perhaps we should address the people who make the mistakes.

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