Boulard (2002) cites many studies that clearly show the increasing costs of malpractice insurance affect specialist care. In 2002 alone more than 60 specialists at one critical care facility in Las Vegas left their jobs after another malpractice premium spike. The crisis results in closure of a 24-hour critical care center (Boulard, 2002). The crisis emphases the potential for not only reduced care but complete lack of access to care for hundreds of patients in similar situations. While legislatures are working on solutions to such problems, the issue is far from resolved. In some medical facilities, physician assistants and nurse practitioners are performing procedures doctor's once did, simply because the cost of medical malpractice is too high for doctors to perform procedures themselves (Bhat, 2001).
Research Design
For purposes of this study the researcher intends to examine medical malpractice claims from Denver's Bureau of Health Services since 1990. In addition the researcher proposes sampling a pool of 50 patients and 20 physicians using a close ended questionnaire to determine the extend to which patients and physicians feel malpractice claims have impacted the quality of care and their access to care. Multiple studies support use of direct examination and questionnaire to evaluate patient outcomes (Emanuele & Simmons, 2004; Danzon, 1985).
The information gathered from the questionnaires and Bureau of Health Services will be compared with information...
The researcher will establish validity by grounding data and conclusions in scientific statistical analysis supported by previous research in the field.
References
Bhat, V.N. (2001). Medical malpractice: A comprehensive analysis." Westport, CT:
Auburn House.
Boulard, G. (2002). "The doctor's big squeeze: Huge increases in medical malpractice insurance rates are driving doctors out of business. What is the answer?" State Legislatures, 28(10): 26.
Danzon, P.M. (1985). "Medical malpractice: Theory, evidence and public policy."
Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Emanuele, R. & Simmons, W. (2004). "Male and female recoveries in medical malpractice cases." Rev Soc Econ, 62(1): 83.
Frankel, J.J. (1994). "Medical malpractice law and health care cost containment: lessons for reformers from the clash of cultures." Yale Law Journal, 103(5): 1297-1331.
Hyman, D. & Silver, C. (2004). "Believing six improbably things: Medical malpractice and legal fear." Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, 28(1): 107.
Morris, J.A. Jr., Carrillo, Y., Jenkins, J.M., Smith, P.W., Bledsoe, S., Pichert, J., White, A. (2003, Jun). "Surgical adverse events risk management and malpractice outcome: morbidity and mortality review is not enough." Ann Surg,…
