Submitted by Phil, Jan 31, 2008 20:00

This is primarily an insurance reform problem. As I understand medical malpractice insurance, the risk is not spread among low and high risk specialists. So, for example, obstretics is high risk because when a baby is severely injured due to negligence in the delivery, the cost of caring for that child for the rest of its life is astronomical. However, other specialties are low risk, like dermatology. The problem is that the insurance companies calculate physician's premiums by specialty. Instead, like car, home, auto, life and other insurance, the risk should be spread broadly amongst all physicians to lessen the cost for the higher risk specialties. And this could be done by the state medical association on a non-profit basis, rather than by for-proft insurers. Doctors need to educate themselves more about their options.

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