Balancing the scales of medical justice. As doctors across the country hang up their stethoscopes protesting against the high cost of malpractice insurance, President Bush has a proposed a plan for reform. He says capping pain and suffering awards for surgeries gone wrong will eliminate those frivolous lawsuits that are inflating insurance premiums and forcing doctors to walk away from their practices.
But not everyone agrees the President has the right suspect on the stand. Consumer advocacy groups, trial lawyers and some Democrats say they hold the insurance industry liable for inflated rates, that’s it bad business decisions and losses in the stock market that are behind skyrocketing premiums.
Guests:
Dr. James Bean, a neurosurgeon
Sally Greenberg, senior counsel, Consumers Union
Dr. Thomas Falasca, has been practicing in Erie, Pennsylvania since 1986, and closed his clinic about six months ago.