WEB EXTRA!
Those advocating a cap got a boost from a recently released study that showed states with limits on noneconomic damages in medical liability lawsuits have about 12 percent more physicians per 100,000 county residents than states without such limits. The study was released July 7 by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
"Our broken medical litigation system is affecting patients' ability to find a doctor," HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a news release. "This study confirms and quantifies the association between reasonable limits in medical lawsuits and the supply of physicians available to treat patients who need them."
In 1970, before any limits were legislated, there was no statistically significant difference among states in their per capita supply of physicians, said the study. By 2000, however, states with limits had 135 physicians per 100,000 county residents, whereas states without limits had a corresponding 120 physicians.
To read the study, go to http://www.ahrq.gov/research/tortcaps/tortcaps.htm.
FP Report is published by the
AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2003 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.