1/2 U.S. personal bankruptcies from medical bills

[Flubber]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

Which is why malpractice rates, not pain and suffering, should be capped. It's not the awards that are crippling our medical system, it's the prices that a captive market has to pay.

Capping rates without limiting payouts would probably make providing such insurance uneconomic . . . so if private industry does not provide it, are you proposing a government run (possibly subsidized) malpractice system?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Then they should be intelligent enough to find another job.

That qualifies as one of the least intelligent things I've heard.

edit: Actually it's not even close, but I like to give you a hard time.

[JimmyCracksCorn]

Originally posted by Flubber



Capping rates without limiting payouts would probably make providing such insurance uneconomic . . . so if private industry does not provide it, are you proposing a government run (possibly subsidized) malpractice system?

How does the system work in Canada regarding malpractice? I can't remember...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Kidicious


There are a lot of intelligent people in other professions where their intelligence isn't really required for the job.

yes and perhaps they are intelligent enough to stay there . Some people want careers that stretch their intellect. Others seek a low-stress situation where they can relax. Many people have motivators other than money. ( This is obvious every time that Mrs Flubber refuses an overtime shift when there are no impediments to working it)

To me it depends on what the person wants. . . If a person that is truly very intelligent wants a job paying very well, that is what they will end up having since a truly intelligent person will figure out a way to make it happen ( note that this is the general case -- I accept that some people will face misfortune that can prevent them from attaining what their ability would otherwise allow them to do

[Kidlicious]

It doesn't just depend on what a person wants. What other people want matters too.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn


How does the system work in Canada regarding malpractice? I can't remember...

The CMPA for doctors while government either self-insures or purchases insurance for all the other workers ( nurses, techs etc).

The reality is that when a Canadian surgeon operates, their liability extends only to the things that they themselves do or are responsible for. So drug mixups or a nursing snaffu would place liability on the hospital corporation ( the government) if the doctor could not have prevented the problem.

The CMPA ( Canadian Medical protective Association) "insures" most doctors but it is actually a not for profit organization that represents physicians across Canada with respect to a number of issues. As a physician organization they have an interest in discouraging frivolous claims and I believe they have a reputation in the legal community as an organization that will NEVER pay out unless there is a solid claim.

Fees for membership vary by region but a quick look at their fee schedule shows fees like an insurance premium (plus a few hundred bucks for other costs of running the organization)

Obstetrics --Ontario 86K annually
Intensive care Ontario-- less than 5 K annually
Cardiac Surgery (ont)--21.5 K
Cardiac Surgery (Que)--9.4K
Cardiac Surgery (other--9.3 K

Emergency Medicine Ont- 9K
Emergency Medicine Que-4.5K
Emergency Medicine other-4.4K

Obviously there is a large insurance component and I didn't see why Ontario is so much higher.

Family medicine is less than 5K a year as long as you stay away from obstetrics

Source:http://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/portal/pub_i..._REDUCE&LANG=E

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Kidicious
It doesn't just depend on what a person wants. What other people want matters too.

Not to the issue of whether a person gets a high paying job or not. Other people only matter to the extent they change what the person wants.

If a person says thay cannot earn more money because they have to take care of their son . The response is no , thats a choice ( and one I respect btw) but a choice nontheless.

There's nobody out there that could prevent me from going to law school and getting a good job. People I care about could influence me and change what I want but thats different than preventing me. Even someone that fires you is just an obstacle. Why ?? because there are lots of jobs out there that pay well.

Note-- I am not saying everyone can become a multi-millionare or anything. But jobs that provide a good ( what 60 K) to very good (80K) to a very very good ( 100K+), while not commonplace, are not exactly rare either. The very brightest folks will get to those jobs if that is one of their priorities

[Flubber]

As an aside, the blurb after my last post was " the longer the title, the less important the job"

I recently ran into an old acquaintance who was the

Associate Assistant Deputy Minister for policy development

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Flubber
Capping rates without limiting payouts would probably make providing such insurance uneconomic . . . so if private industry does not provide it, are you proposing a government run (possibly subsidized) malpractice system?

That would probably be superior to what we have now.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kidicious


That qualifies as one of the least intelligent things I've heard.

edit: Actually it's not even close, but I like to give you a hard time.

Kid, you couldn't give me a hard time if you tried.

My point remains.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kidicious
It doesn't just depend on what a person wants. What other people want matters too.

Stop whining, dude...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Do you really think that awarding someone 2 million dollars versus awarding them 25 million dollars really makes that big of a difference besides putting a financial strain on people who have nothing to do with the case in question?

Che already answered part of this. However, to reiterate, the limits aren't $2 million (and after appeals VERY FEW people recieve awards of that amount). They are closer to $250,000. And the caps haven't prevented insurance premiums from rising. Legislation specifically targetting insurance premiums have, however.

Also capping damages prevents people with legitimate claims from getting relief. Because of all the work required for a malpractice claim (expert testimony, collecting evidence, appeals), it isn't worth a lawyer's time if the award will be under $1 million. The lawyer will LOSE money on a malpractice case if it is less than that.

Capping rates without limiting payouts would probably make providing such insurance uneconomic . . . so if private industry does not provide it, are you proposing a government run (possibly subsidized) malpractice system?

Actually, IIRC, Kerry had a plan where the government would subsidize the catastrophic awards (above a certain limit and the government would come in).

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Kid, you couldn't give me a hard time if you tried.

My point remains.

Well, what does intelligence have to do with job preference anyway.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Flubber
There's nobody out there that could prevent me from going to law school and getting a good job.

Actually that depends on whether or not there was a job for you, and whether or not anyone would give you the job.

[KrazyHorse]

That most intelligent people prefer jobs where they won't be bored.

If an intelligent person wants to remain in an unchallenging job then bully for them.