By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Doctors across New York State are calling for a cap on amounts awarded in malpractice verdicts. Physicians say it is compromising patient care and forcing some to leave the state.
Doctors say they are "outraged" by the amount of money courts are awarding for "pain and suffering" malpractice cases in the state. Thousands of physicians rallied outside of hospitals throughout New York Monday.
In Buffalo, Dr. Susan Baldassari, out-going president of the Erie County Medical Society, says the doctors want the state Legislature to change the law by placing on cap on malpractice settlements.
"Presently the average malpractice verdict is up to $6 million," Baldassari said. "We don't have that much coverage, so if a jury awards a plaintiff money beyond the amount of our coverage, then our personal assets are at stake and we are out of business."
Dr. Don Copley, president elect of the Erie County Medical Society, says California pays about a third less than what New York State pays in malpractice settlements. Doctors in the state are also paying the highest medical liability insurance costs in the country.
Copley says malpractice rates in this region are very high for doctors.
"In Western New York, an OBGYN might pay $30,000 to $40,000 a year just for malpractice insurance," he said. "That could total a third of his salary."
The Erie County Medical Society says without liability reform patient care will be compromised. The society also says some doctors are actually leaving the region to avoid high malpractice costs in the state.