http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/...-lawyer13.html
edited for names

spartan Loop office reflects his low-key style. The only pictures are family photos and a large painting of Jack, Bobby and Ted Kennedy. When asked about his interests outside his job, wife and five children, he answered, "I would be lying if I said I had any."

Doctors blame huge malpractice settlements for driving up liability insurance. Typical premiums in Cook County last year were $38,000 for internists, $103,000 for general surgeons and $148,000 for obstetrician-gynecologists, according to Medical Liability Monitor.

Liability costs get passed on to HMOs and other health plans, which in turn pass them on to companies and their employees, said. "This is costing everybody."

But trial attorneys put the blame on liability insurance companies.

President Bush is backing legislation that would limit big awards by capping payments for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering at $250,000.

That would be unfair to the "innocent victims" of negligent care, said.

"When you see the lifelong problems they have, I can't believe they should be the ones to solve the [liability] crisis, if there is one."


CASE BY CASE

These are among trial attorney s biggest cases:

# Caesarean section delivery of was delayed because the anesthesiologist failed to respond to a page, allegedly while on another floor with his girlfriend. cannot sit, walk or talk. Settlement, paid mostly by Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation: $35 million.

# St. ******* Hospital in Blue Island allegedly made multiple errors during delivery of who can't walk, speak or eat on his own. Settlement: $34 million.

# Former fashion model , paralyzed because doctors allegedly failed to diagnose a brain aneurysm. Settlement from doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital: $17.5 million.

# suffered first-degree burns after a fire erupted above her face during minor surgery to remove two moles from her forehead. Settlement paid by Weiss Memorial Hospital: $6 million.

There needs to be serious reform!

__________________
"Primum non nocere"

"When you see the lifelong problems they have, I can't believe they should be the ones to solve the [liability] crisis, if there is one."

Typical lawyer **, BIG STEAMING PILE OF **!

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"Primum non nocere"

The first three of the biggest cases listed at the end of the article may be fair...these are children/people that will have a long life that costs $$$ to care for them. I don't know the details..
But the last one? $6 million for a grown woman with 1st degree burns? That sounds ridiculous.
I blame the the legal system and the insurance industry equally, myself.

__________________
Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

There is no justifying the payouts on any of the settlements listed. Just keep in mind that the cost is not absorbed by the hospitals, its absorbed by patients and taxpayers.

__________________
"Primum non nocere"

It's nice you say that, but on what facts do you base your statement? What makes the payouts unjustifiable? Do you have all the facts?

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Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

The fact is that lawyers will receive up to 1/3 of the total settlement. The other 1/3 will go to treatments for the injured and the last 1/3 goes on anything the parents what to keep up with the Jones. The reality is that this is a easy money making propositon for the lawyers. Lawyers are in it for the money pure and simple, but there is always the exception to the rule. I'm mindful of the fault of the doctors responsible and I can understand compensating the patient at whatever the cost to treat the patient. I can not justify someone profiting from someone suffering.

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"Primum non nocere"

I can agree with that. I can't specifically say that all but the last case mentioned in the above article are frivolous, though.

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Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

The kids sound like cerebral palsey cases. Nobody really knows what causes that, so it is hard to say the "blunder" was the cause. I have yet to see anyone with CP step out of a Ferrari. With severe disabilities like that the state foots the bill. G

__________________
AUC Class of '99
Bored certified
I may be a jerk, but I'm a Jedi jerk like my father.

Some say I look like Buzz Lightyear....
(They're right)

DISCLAIMER: I have no financial stake in ValueMD, or any medical school.

If you had a kid with cerebral palsy, and you had to take care of the kid, 24 hrs, seven days a week, for the rest of your life, would you be satisfied with any amount of money?
wouldnt it be the ultimate in cruelty to have to take care of your retarded child everyday, knowing that there isnt a brighter tomorrow, and dreading what would happen to the kid after the parents passed away?
Thats what this is about.

Oh, and the reason for 6 million $ settlement for the first degree burn, isnt that it is compensation for the burn, but most likely an award made as punitive damages, so the hospital takes better care of OR fire prevention techniques ijn the future...

yes, there really are special O.R fire prevention protocols...