New York Medical Malpractice

Current negotiations for medical malpractice reform are delaying the release of the newest malpractice rates. The New York Sun highlights:
The state’s insurance superintendent, Eric Dinallo, is holding off on raising medical malpractice insurance rates pending negotiations on ways to reform the state’s malpractice system, the insurance department announced yesterday.
When rates for 2008-09 are determined, [...]

Should doctors be able to practice while under investigation for medical malpractice. Some say yes, others strongly disagree. New York Newsday points out:
Gov. David A. Paterson’s measures aimed at improving patient safety and putting more teeth into physician discipline drew a mixed reaction yesterday from experts in health care and the legal profession. [...]

Medical malpractice is hotly debated in think tanks and legal forums of all types as one of the most controversial of our generation. The Civil Defense Blog of the Drum Major Policy Institute points out:
America’s medical malpractice system is one part Rip van Winkle and one part Anna Nicole Smith.
It’s Rip van Winkle because [...]

The days of military immunity from medical malpractice may be over. Hudson Valley Press Online reports:
In order to provide servicemen and women with the rights to hold the military accountable for medical malpractice, Hinchey last month introduced the Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act of 2008. The bill is named after the late [...]

In a knock to its national reputation, Walgreens settles a case in which it defrauded consumers and medicaid. The Hartford Courant highlights:
Walgreens has agreed to pay $35 million to 42 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the federal government to settle allegations it switched the form of three generic drugs it dispensed, between capsules [...]

The apparent decrease in sanctions against doctor error and indiscretion is certainly alarming. All Headline News reports:
New York, NY (AHN) - While complaints against physicians keep on rising in the Big Apple, New York state’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct has penalized fewer doctors in 2007, an 11-year record low.
An 18-page report by the [...]

Doctors are turning to apologies in cases of mishaps. The New York Times highlights:
At the University of Illinois, for example, of 37 cases where the hospital acknowledged a preventable error and apologized, only one patient filed suit. At the University of Michigan Health System, existing claims and lawsuits dropped from 262 in August 2001 [...]

A recent post by the Wall Street Journal points out that a study published in Health affairs reports that Massachusetts medical malpractice premiums have actually fallen since 2005:
Given how often we hear complaints about rising malpractice premiums, we couldn’t help but notice a study out today that suggested rates have actually fallen slightly in Massachusetts [...]

Accountability for medical malpractice is critical to patient health. There is a movement in New York to create greater transparency in this key area.New York Newsday reports:
Under Paterson’s proposal, any professional discipline charges would be made public. Right now the public isn’t notified of physician misconduct unless and until the doctor is found guilty. [...]