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To the editor:
Why only in malpractice lawsuits does the prevailing party not always have its legal costs paid by the non-prevailing party? That is, if you fall on my property and sue me, the costs all fall on the non-prevailing party. If I prevail, you must pay your attorney, court costs and my attorney. If you prevail, I must pay all costs.
But in malpractice cases, this does not happen. The doctors always pay all of their legal costs even if they prevail.
Even the playing field -- let the plaintiff pay all costs if the plaintiff doesn't prevail! But detractors would say the little guys then cannot sue the big, rich doctors. But yes, they could. The plaintiffs could get bonding beforehand in case they should lose.
This would be one more way to prevent frivolous suits. Or the plaintiff's attorney could foot the costs.
Alan Gunsul, M.D.
Burien, Wash.
To the editor:
As an AAFP charter member, I'd like to express how I feel about universal health care (see "AAFP Chapters Join Grass-roots Effort to Cover the Nation's Uninsured" in the March FP Report).
Together with AMA Past President Edward Annis, M.D., I fought to keep government from intruding on the private practice of medicine.
Before Medicare and Medicaid, we had the most advanced system of care in the world, and no one was dying in the street. Those who could not afford care received it free, and the cost to those who could pay was nominal.
Enter government intrusion, and scores of nonmedical administrative personnel -- not to mention trial lawyers -- are placed between the doctor and the patient. The price of care skyrocketed to where it is today and is still going higher. Before government health care, you had a medical bill only if and when you became ill. If you stayed well, it cost you nothing. Now you must pay over $1,000 every month whether you are sick or not. And the quality of care is decreasing, while the cost increases.
No, we do not desire universal health care; we will do much better without it.
Are there other members who feel as I do? Speak up!
Bernard Vinoski Sr., M.D.
Beaufort, S.C.
To the editor:
I really like receiving the e-mailed FP Report table of contents with links to the online issue. It's like scanning a newspaper -- I can read the headlines and a brief abstract of all the articles in the issue, then delve into those stories that most interest me.
I hope you get lots of support to continue this format!
H.E. "Pat" Crow, M.D.
Sun City Center, Fla.
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To the editor:
I'm a family practice resident, and I want to congratulate the AAFP for its continued pursuit of "health care coverage for all." I read the February FP Report story that described how AAFP spearheaded the effort to get the AMA to pledge to seek a U.S. Congress resolution endorsing coverage for all. However, the AMA resolution said that reform must be "consistent with AMA policy" -- e.g., tax credits and medical accounts that do little to help the increasing numbers of Americans with inadequate coverage. This reveals that the current medical establishment is not committed to reforms that will truly achieve universal coverage.
The AAFP must educate members about both the types of health policies that would expand coverage (including AAFP's own proposal) and methods of political activism. Meanwhile, we must continue working with other specialties that share our goals and collaborate with coalitions that represent our patients.
Physician walkouts for tort reform are not the answer. Let's raise our voices in support of reforms that will achieve universal coverage and transform both the patient-doctor relationship and our specialty. Only then will we capture credibility with local communities, the public and lawmakers as the "go-to" organization for the medical profession.
Jeff Huebner, M.D.
Seattle, Wash.
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