Re: IUFD IN U.S.A
From: Dean Huffman (jth@springnet1.com)
Sun Apr 30 12:09:42 2000
Good Point!
By the way, there was a thread a few years back about a well known MFM who
"sold out", cashed in on his reputation, and started testifying to anything
the highest bidder wanted, whether or not it was a the truth. Does anybody
remember who he is, or can they point me to the posts (or give me a general
date). I have tried finding those posts through the obgyn.net search
engine, but I have not yet been successful.
Is he still around and is he still testifying? Has he been sanctioned?
--
Dean Huffman
- - - -
At Tue, 25 Apr 2000, D. Ashley Hill, MD wrote: >
>At Tue, 25 Apr 2000, Ronnie Martinez Brignardello wrote:
>>what a case!!
>>amazing USA obstetricsystem
>
>> RModugno@aol.com wrote:
>>> Ron, the most troubling aspect of this case is that in the USA, in the
year
>>> 2000, a pregnant woman who has noticed decreased fetal movements cannot
get
>>> to see a physician because she is "not their patient" with subsequent
demise
>>> of her fetus.
>
>Ronnie and Robert-
>
>In our practice, which is a hybrid academic/private practice, we "take
>them as they come" and see patients regardless of gestational age or
>complications. Sadly, this makes us a target for malpractice lawyers.
>Good care will often preclude malpractice cases, but not always. Many
>of the "private" ob/gyn physicians in our community have been named in
>malpractice cases, and are very reluctant to take on high-risk cases.
>They send these patients to us. Further, in Florida, malpractice law
>essentially dictates that everyone who comes in contact with the patient
>is named in the suit. I know of a number of ob/gyns in the area who
>were named in lawsuits only because they were walking through the labor
>unit and were asked to step in the room to help a colleague with a bad
>shoulder dystocia. Also, one colleague was recently dropped from a
>large HMO due to a malpractice case, despite the fact the case was
>ridiculous and was finally dropped.
>
>Fear of a multimillion dollar lawsuit, including inclusion in the
>national malpractice data bank with subsequent damage to one's
>reputation and ability to make a living, has causes many of our
>colleagues to refuse to see patients later in pregnancy or when they
>have certain high-risk complications. It has also caused many fine
>ob/gyns to leave obstetrics.
>
>It is easy to say that taking care of every ill patient is part of being
>a doctor, until one has been the victim of a frivolous lawsuit for doing
>just that. Our international colleagues likely have no idea about the
>oppressive malpractice situation in the United States, and I imagine it
>is hard for them to understand why we are so concerned about lawsuits.
>In the US when a doctor is successfully sued his or her name is entered
>into a national data bank, which is accessible by hospitals, state
>medical societies, and other entities. Some states are publishing legal
>information on the Internet for patient access. And, some HMOs will
>drop doctors if they have been sued. I recall that about 80% of US
>ob/gyns have been sued at least once, so this is a problem that affects
>most of us. Although I have mixed feelings about obstetricians refusing
>care for high-risk obstetric patients such as those with no fetal
>movement, I acknowledge that until the malpractice burden is eased that
>many of our colleagues will continue to hide from high-risk cases,
>rather than expose themselves to potential lawsuits.
>
>Thanks,
>
>--
>David Ashley Hill, MD
>Associate Director
>Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
>Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency
>http://home.mpinet.net/dahmd
>
