Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Republicans Fearmongers are at it again

A group calling itself Doctors for Medical Liability Reform has been blitzing the Seattle area with a half-hour info-mercials. This past weekend they ran their propaganda film a dozen or more times.

This film is a FEAR-FEST: People describing themselves as; Doctors, nurses and patients claim that all the doctors are leaving Washington state. Various Washington state Republican politicians, known for their allegiance to anti-democratic forces, also appear in the film. The film sets up a drumbeat of fear: 'doctors are leaving'; 'students are dropping out of Med. school'; 'if you get sick, no-one will be there to help you'.

Then the real purpose of the film pops-up. Our Democratic Senators are attacked and vilified for not voting to take citizens right away. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are berated over and over again for voting against what is called "Medical liability reform".

Of course, this is bait and switch legislation. The purpose of this deceptively named legislation is to limit the rights of citizens; setting a discount price on any settlement an injured patient might win, before they ever enter a courtroom.

This kind of legislation has been passed in some states. It does limit the amount of damages a patient can recover in a malpractice case. It doesn't achieve its stated purpose of reducing the cost of medical liability insurance. But, the new laws do achieve their real goal of increasing the profits of insurance companies.


Here are some real source of information about the "so called" medical liability reform.
Beware of Infomercials Touting Reform
FACT-CHECKING THE INFOMERCIAL
Contrary to ads, doctors replaced, clinics still open
Doctors group targets state in fight over malpractice-insurance rates
The Attack on Patient Rights
President Uses Dubious Statistics on Costs of Malpractice Lawsuits

No comments: