Twelve general surgeons walked out of Biloxi hospitals Monday to protest rising insurance premiums. Medical malpractice insurance has risen to six-figure annual sums in some cases. It continues to rise for many surgeons, despite tort reform legislation that was passed last October.
High insurance rates in the past few years have significantly affected Mississippi doctors and their patients. The 12 physicians who walked out on Monday left three Mississippi Gulf Coast hospitals without general surgeons. Patients needing immediate medical attention were sent to the one remaining area hospital with operating surgeons or a hospital in Louisiana or Alabama. Other surgeons on the Gulf Coast supported their collegues by not performing elective (non-emergency) procedures.
The immediate victims of high malpractice insurance rates are doctors. For a doctor to take action to change such inflated rates is understandable. However, for a doctor to refuse to provide services breaks the Hippocratic oath and is unethical, especially after special legislative sessions resulted in much-lobbied-for tort reform just a few months ago.
Doctors swear in medical school to “apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required.” Doctors also acknowledge their responsibility in having “special obligations” to “all human beings.” For 12 surgeons to refuse to work until insurance rates are lowered is certainly in violation of the revered oath.
The surgeons have developed a contingency plan in case of emergencies. According to the plan, anyone in desperate need of service will be seen within 30 minutes. This plan is irresponsible and ill-prepared. Thirty minutes could mean death for some patients.
Last October, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove signed a bill that capped non-economic damages. The bill, aimed to protect health care providers from large malpractice settlements was celebrated by many doctors and viewed as much-deserved relief.
Today, just three months later, discontented surgeons on the Gulf Coast have refused to provide service until insurance rates drop. These surgeons should learn that patience is indeed a virtue. Tort reform, whether it lowers insurance rates or not, was the object of their hearts’ desires only a few months ago. They should be satisfied enough with their gain that they do not take such extreme actions.
The Gulf Coast surgeons are essentially bargaining with people’s lives. I think they are grossly misusing their power. Great gains have been made through the legal system in the past and they can certainly be made in the future.
People who need medical care are paying the price for these negotiations. The citizens of the coast are being punished for high insurance rates that they have no influence on.
The solution could be legislation aimed at insurance companies or relocation for doctors. However, better methods of protest exist than what has happened on the Gulf Coast.
Josh Foreman is a junior communication major.