Stewart Eisenberg was the featured guest on Legal Perspectives hosted by Bob Bumbera and Michael A. Ferrara, Jr. Legal Perspectives is a weekly hour long program on Philadelphia’s Big Talker 1210 that covers all legal topics from real estate to personal injury litigation.
Eisenberg appeared on the show to discuss with the hosts the role Philadelphia Trial Lawyers take in protecting the rights of injured patients who suffer at the hands of negligent doctors and hospitals in Pennsylvania.
On the program Mr. Eisenberg explained to listeners that medical malpractice claims have fallen dramatically in Pennsylvania because of the new rules enacted that trial lawyers follow when filing a lawsuit. All claims for medical malpractice must now have a Certificate of Merit, which is a statement from a qualified expert in the field, before they can file a claim for malpractice. That expert must state in the Certificate of Merit that someone was negligent in the care of the patient that led to the patient’s injuries.
Mr. Eisenberg’s Inquirer Article:
Letters: Malpractice payments have fallen dramatically
Let's stick to the facts about the cost to doctors and hospitals for medical malpractice insurance:
Malpractice premiums (adjusted for inflation) are the lowest they've been in 30 years, according to Americans for Insurance Reform.
In Pennsylvania, the drop has been significant - down 10.2 percent.On average, Pennsylvania doctors are paying $14,097 less than they were four years ago.
Payouts by medical malpractice insurance companies nationally have declined since 2002 by close to 20 percent. In Pennsylvania, that decline is more than 50 percent since 2003.
The greatest cost is attributable to preventable medical errors, such as infections. The number of preventable deaths in U.S. hospitals approximates two full-capacity 747s crashing each month with the loss of all lives.
Insurance companies and health-care special interests who have been reaping huge profits would like you to believe that we need tort reform. What we need is affordable health care for Americans and a plan to reduce preventable medical errors.
