Here in Madison County, Illinois, the newspaper coverage of tort "reform" issues by the local papers is frequent and unrelenting. Today's obligatory gift to the tort reform Gods is yet another article about area doctors leaving the area due to high insurance rates. The article begins with this unlikely lead: "Dr. Brad Tissier's voice quavered and tears welled in his eyes Tuesday when he started talking about his friends leaving the metro-east." ("Doctor laments loss of friends to other states," by Patrick Powers).
I'm an empathetic guy, but c'mon. Are malpractice rates so high that the doctors can't afford telephones?
According to the article, there's at least one way to get the doctors smiling again. "They suggest caps on the amount of noneconomic damages a jury can award the victim of medical malpractice." In other words, place the risk of the doctors' negligence onto those who can least afford it -- the victims. Meanwhile, according to the article, a county official (but not a doctor) has started asking questions of the companies who insure the local doctors. Stay tuned . . .
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