It continues to surprise me that my dedicated and intelligent friends in the medical community are being used as pawns for the insurance companies and the Republican Party. For example, a recent letter by Dr. Richard Amber states that carefully researched studies have shown that a $250,000 cap on damages will make a substantial difference in malpractice premiums. In fact, all of the evidence clearly shows that a cap will make little, if any, difference in malpractice premiums.

Dr. Amber cites California as an example. However, California’s rising insurance premiums were controlled only by Initiative 63, which placed a cap on the amount of premium increases insurance companies could charge their customers. Other states where caps have been passed continue to see premium increases.

The Congressional Budget Office recently concluded that the evidence for positive affects on medical malpractice premiums by damage caps is “weak or inconclusive.”

I can understand that doctors have strong feelings about lawsuits and getting sued. Most doctors I know are tireless professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping people. Unfortunately, there is a small percentage of doctors who have no business practicing medicine. These doctors do the greatest harm to innocent victims through their incompetence. The medical profession seems unable to effectively weed them out.

To her credit, Pat Lantz has proposed meaningful reforms to assist the medical profession. Others, including the Governor and Insurance Commissioner have offered effective solutions. The amount currently being paid to doctors by Medicare and health insurers is abysmally low. Yet the premiums for health insurance continue to rise. Damage caps won’t solve this problem. Malpractice premiums account for less than two percent of health-care spending.

The bottom line is that this issue is about politics. The Republicans have seized on this issue because they feel it will help them at election time. Unfortunately, too many doctors have unknowingly gotten caught up in this political game. We can work together to solve many of these issues.

Bill Broughton, Attorney
Silverdale