T_J, for your sake, I sincerely hope that a doctor never performs malpractice on you or anyone you love.
While the case remains closed, I would like to point out that with this victory, it ensures that doctors will be around to practice medicine in our state. What was lost on the liberals' argument, and probably the main reason why they failed in their attempts to mislead the electorate, was the fact that without caps on frivolous lawsuit awards, there are no doctors in Texas. This vicious cycle was ended by the courageous efforts of the Republicans. I can sleep easy, knowing that the healthcare system has been vastly strengthened by Prop 12. VICTORY
With millions expended on advertising before opposition fully ramped-up a statewide effort to educate the population on a complex issue, Prop 12 passed. An example of 'Doctors' Pocketbooks' over 'Patient Rights' and 'Doctor Accountability', the issue is not dead...but many more patients will be.
Cohen, I'm sorry, but voters disagree with you. The liberals are once again out of touch with American voters.
Congratulations on the win, however, if the medical boards would police doctors who commit malpractice with any kind of thoroughness, malpractice insurance rates wouldn't have skyrocketed in the first place. The medical community has brought this upon themselves, and they only have themselves to blame. Like I said, T_J, I hope it never happens to you or anyone you love.
What is the extent of your knowledge of the 'healthcare system'? What are the main concerns, in your opinion, of our healthcare system? Which were addressed/not addressed by Prop 12? Did Prop 12 make any worse?
Originally posted by RocketMan Tex Congratulations on the win, ... The only winners were doctors. The rest of us lost. Some are just too thick-headed to realize that ( ) ...however, if the medical boards would police doctors who commit malpractice with any kind of thoroughness, malpractice insurance rates wouldn't have skyrocketed in the first place. You and I often disgree. I cannot agree more with you on this. The medical community has brought this upon themselves, and they only have themselves to blame. Like I said, T_J, I hope it never happens to you or anyone you love. You are too nice, RMTex. jk...seriously.
I have not seen any evidence that doctors are constinently commiting malpractice without being punished. There have been many frivolous lawsuits, however.
many frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits. When they have a chance to make millions of dollars, they will swing at anything.
The money to pass Prop 12 was spent in the Session on the lobbyists that got this passed and put on a September ballot. Seeing as how it barely passed, even in September, I think one can safely say that had it been on the ballot in November, when it should have been, it would have been soundly defeated. So the lobbyists and the special interests win again. I fail to see how this is any sort of "victory" for Texans. It is quite the opposite.
This one just really drives me close to consider moving out of this state. It's just getting more and more clear to me that Texas is far more like Alabama than anywhere I want to live.
Trial lawyers are a special interest. So do you really not know how this can be a victory for all Texans are have you just not read the other side's arguments?
I thought both sides agreed that there were too many lawsuits, but that they had different methods of solving it. Anyways: http://www.overlawyered.com/archives/000167.html GAO: legal costs drive med-mal rates Congress's General Accounting Office confirms what the Department of Health and Human Services and Joint Economic Committee (PDF) have found before it: "Increases in medical malpractice insurance rates in some states, including Pennsylvania, were due largely to high payoffs on legal claims, according to a congressional survey released yesterday. ...'Losses on medical malpractice claims appear to be the primary driver of increased premium rates in the long term,' the report states. 'Such losses are by far the largest component of insurer costs.'" (Lara Jakes Jordan, "Malpractice insurance rise tied to legal claims", AP/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jul. 29). Study: "Medical Malpractice Insurance: Multiple Factors Have Contributed to Increased Premium Rates", Jun. (PDF format). I guess you could still argue that all legal claims are not frivolous...
Mr. C, I've read a great deal about the subject. I've also heard a lot about what went on behind the scenes to get this on the September ballot to begin with. I learned much that I sometimes wish I hadn't, as it has made me even more cynical about how things are going politically here in Texas. In short, I have informed opinions. But that is all they are... my opinions. The facts speak for themselves. You choose to interpret the facts you know in a way that fits your political bent. There is nothing wrong with that. We just disagree.
