FW: This explains M. Feldman, Schreier, Ayoub, etc. (Taxpayers cover them)

[Guest guest]

This explains M. Feldman, Schreier, Ayoub, etc. (Taxpayers cover

them)

Note: As noted and written for too many years, whether taxpayers or

consumers pay higher taxes to cover fraud and financial jeopardy in personal

injury suits in medical negligence or malpractice actions in false

allegations of child abuse OR they pay higher insurance premiums because of

the above, EITHER WAY THE INNOCENT PAY TO COVER THE GUILTY. Every taxpayer

is involved; every citizen needs to follow the money with regard to WHY

taxes and insurance premiums go up.

Does anyone believe that doctors who shield themselves with government

immunity will be freer and therefore practice BETTER medicine? Will they

lob fewer claims of mythical MSbP know they have cost-free cover from " the

state " ?

Barbara

State's at-risk doctors might become university professors

Move would allow them to receive faculty malpractice insurance

Thursday September 20, 2001

By Joy Davia

Doctors not able to get affordable malpractice insurance may become

professors so they can receive the same kind of insurance that covers

university faculty.

" This will quickly offer some coverage to physicians in the process of

losing their insurance, " said Dr. , vice chancellor for Health

Sciences with the state Higher Education Policy Commission.

State officials started talking to medical school administrators last month

about adding certain physicians to the schools' volunteer clinical faculty,

said.

These volunteer doctors, which are like adjunct professors, teach and mentor

students, sometimes allowing residents to accompany them on rounds.

The state Board of Risk and Insurance Management insures doctors at state

universities.

West Virginia Deputy Insurance Commissioner Vince King said he drafted a

proposal for Gov. Bob Wise on Monday and hopes state officials will make a

decision on the plan in the next week. King said he is not able to elaborate

on the plan's details.

The proposal applies to doctors with a critical specialty or those who are

needed by an area hospital or community, said.

BRIM currently covers adjunct professors for claims related to the teaching

of students. But teaching is often a small part of what an adjunct professor

does on a daily basis, said officials from area medical schools. What this

doctor does in his private practice, for example, is not usually covered by

the university.

" We'd like to be any help that we can ...but is that the best alternative?

That's hard to say, " said Jim Schneider, associate dean for finance and

administration at Marshal University's School of Medicine.

This proposal is one of a slew of programs state officials are considering

to help doctors plagued by medical malpractice insurance problems. BRIM, for

example, is also looking at directly selling malpractice insurance to

obstetricians.

Dr. D'Alessandri, WVU School of Medicine dean, said the school does

not have the capability to take in every doctor in need of malpractice

insurance. He said he is also concerned that this proposal would expand the

school's liability risk and increase its premiums.

Doctors who want to become professors must meet certain criteria, such as

being board-certified and showing a capability to teach, Schneider said.

This criteria will make it difficult to help every doctor interested in this

option.

" We don't see this as the end-all way to solve this problem, " Schneider

said.

If state officials accept the proposal and doctors are funneled into the

universities, Schneider said he believes, " they would pay their own premiums

so we don't affect each other adversely. "

Six doctors participated in a Friday conference call that discussed the

proposal with state officials and medical school members, King said.

Dr. Hall, part of the Southern Surgical Associates group that closed

in August, is interested in becoming a WVU School of Medicine adjunct

professor, teaching medical residents at Memorial Hospital in South

ton, D'Alessandri said.

Southern Surgical Associates closed in August because it could not get

affordable liability insurance. Several insurance companies have dropped

high-risk state doctors from their coverage.

Three suits, for example, have been filed against Hall. One 1998 claim was

dismissed, another claim in 1991 was settled for $22,500 and a $5,000

" nuisance claim " was settled in 1996.

Hall was one of a trio of surgeons that worked at Memorial, serving

more than 3,000 patients in the ton area.

Dr. Therese Whitt, medical director at ' Emergency Center, said she

hopes to have Hall back on the surgical rotation by Oct. 1.

" I'm pretty hopeful that we get this thing with Dr. Hall pulled off, " said

Bob Gray, vice president. " We want him back serving the community. "

To contact staff writer Joy Davia, use e-mail or call 348-1254.