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Show THE SALT LAKE TIMES FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1975 Action on Several Fronts Required To Stop Increasing Cost of Medical Liability Insurance doliar lawsuit, and the mere mention of the higher figure tends to raise the amount ultimately awarded, according to Dr. McQuarrie. And, one of the major elements to the solution of the entire problem is enacting legislation allowing the medical profession to better police itself. Dr. McQuarrie said. That will be the subject of the next article in this series. While most of the solutions discussed require legal action, one of the most critical aspects of the problem is simply the communication between the patient and the doctor and what the patient can reasonably expect from the doctor. And, that will be the subject of another acticle. This is the third of a series of six articles concerning the medical professional liability (malpractice) insurance problem in Utah. The material was prepared by the Utah State Medical Association whose 1,375 practicing physicians make up 99 percent of the nongovernment doctors in Utah. practice screening panel would in no way hinder anyones right to sue, but it would give plaintiffs and their attorneys a good idea as to whether or not it was going to be worth their while to go to court. If there is no case, it is to every- ones advantage the patient, the lawyer, the hospital, and the doctor that this be recognized as early as possible. Hopefully, as a result of these hearings, most of that 70 percent of cases which are decided in the It also is proposed that these doctors favor will never go to hearing proceedings and judgments court. be admissible in any subsequent "We believe this is necessary court proceeding. It is thought that because it is hard to believe that this will save court costs and make more information available to the any injury, regardless of how court on which to base its verdict. grievous, is worth some of the Another suggestion is to devise multimillion-dolla- r awards that have been made in other states. some way of limiting or restructurWhen you start putting a price tag ing lawyers contingent fees in medical malpractice suits, accordon physical and mental there must be some legal limit or ing to Dr. McQuarrie. Contingent fee means that the there will be no limit, and that could destroy Americas medical-car- e lawyer's compensation is based on a percentage of the amount finally delivery system. The increasing cost of profesawarded by the court. In some sional liability (malpractice) insurWe also propose limiting the medical malpractice cases, it has ance for Utahs doctors and hospiamount that can be taken from the been as high as 50 percent. tals raises the cost of medical care insurer of any one doctor, with Lawyers representatives claim for all Utahns and could price both amounts awarded over that limit to that the contingent fee is the poor new physicians entering practice be taken from a special state fund man!s key to the courthouse, ie., and older doctors working part-tim- e made up of a surcharge on the that many people simply cannot doctor's insurance premiums. out of the profession. affort to pay for the services of a "We also propose that the col- lawyer and that a contingent fee There has been a dramatic increase in the past few years in the lateral source' rule be changed to arrangement is the only way they number of medical malpractice lawprevent a claimant from receiving can obtain legal representation in suits and in the amounts awarded benefits from two different sources such instances. such as a doctor and a hospital for by the courts in some cases. We acknowledge that probably In 1969, only one out of every 23 the same act of malpractice. is true," Dr. McQuarrie said, and doctors was sued by a disgruntled The State Medical Association We are not pressing for elimination of out in So one far also believes that Guarantees of of contingent fees, only that they 1975, patient. is been has six or doctors medical results should be limited to be limited in some way so that every involved in a malpractice suit. those given by the doctor in unscrupulous or inexperienced law"It is interesting to note, how- writing. The fact is that a patient yers will be less inclined to take a ever, that approximately 70 per- canqot buy a cure from a doctor. weak or nonexistent medical malcent of the cases are decided in the All pe buys are the doctors best practice case on the chance that doctor's favor, Dr. Howard G. effis. they may get a sympathetic jury, "We also propose that the rules win, and get a windfall award, he McQuarrie, president of the Utah on informed consent' be changed to said. State Medical Association, said. Part of the solution has got to clarify who can give a doctor The Utah State Medical Assobe to find a way to screen medical permission to attempt a treatment ciation and the Utah Hospital Assomalpractice cases before they go to and under what conditions. ciation are preparing a series of court, so wre, meaning everyone Although Utah presently has bills for submission to the January because we all pay the cost of these one of the most realistic statute of Session of the State LegisBudget cases, can save the cost of defend- limitations concerning doctor negli- lature which we believe will go a ing against the 70 percent where gence (two years), we need to long way in solving the medical the courts ultimately decide there broaden it to include breach of liability problem, Dr. is no case, he said. contract or warranty actions and professionalsaid. McQuarrie The Utah State Medical Associaput a more reasonable limit on it as In addition to the screening tion recommends that the Utah it pertains to minors. panel and a limitation on lawyers' "Also, we are asking that lawLegislature establish a board made contingent fees, the legislation also up of doctors, lawyers, and public yers no longer be allowed to ask for will propose a limit on the amount representatives which would hear a specific sum in damages in court. of money that can be awarded in a malpractice complaints before they Many times a lawyer will ask for medical malpractice case except go to court and render a judgment millions of dollars, knowing full where the malpractice resulted in as to whether or not there is, in well that the case warrants only a death. fact, a case against the doctor or few thousand dollars. The problem is that what really hospital. A hearing and subsequent judgis a thousand-dolla- r lawsuit suddenment by this proposed medical mal ly is announced as a multimillion- well-bein- g, Grain Exports Have Utah at Sea In the minds of some Utahns, concern in the Beehive state over grain exports assumes about the UTAH same importance as concern in the Swiss government over naval affairs. High and dry in the tops of the mountains, Utah is far removed from seaports. She grows little wheat for export and imports corn. Yet, the current controversy over grain sales to Russia does involve SPECTACULAR ENTERTAINMENT FREE WITH GATE ADMISSION PLUS EXHIBITS MIDWAY - DAILY VARIETY ACTS FUN FOR ALL X Adults 6 thru 12 5 years and under every Utahn who eats. That's because a key question $2.00 . . 50 .FREE raised by opponents of the sales is whether they will cause bread and other food prices to jump. This countrys own uses will only require about 37 percent of the record-settin1975 wheat crop and 75 about percent of the record corn The crop. present level of sales to Russia only accounts for about 14 percent of the excess corn and wheat available for export. g SEPTEMBER UTAH STATE FAIRGROUNDS ms QaHvaaKSBf Page Nine Holiday On Ice, A Talented Celebration Bi-Centen- nial Holidays Olympic star Doug llerndt has placed in about 40 different figure skating competitions, the greatest achievement for the handsome e skater was going to Sapporo, Japan in 1972 with the United States Olympic Team. Talented Doug does, in addition to his spectacular solo, an adagio number with the lovely and glamorous Patrice Leary. Doug will be appearing when Holiday On Ice begins its engagement in Salt Lake City, Thursday, September 4. free-styl- One of the Worlds most popular forms of entertainment is celebrating an anniversary. Holiday On Ice, the skating revue seen by more people around the world than any other show of its kind, is 30 years young in 1976. To celebrate the The finale number, A Salute to America is one that should bring everyone to his feet with a standing ovation. It is patriotic, colorful and a surprise of fireworks at the end event, Holiday On Ice. Remember its good Family Entertainment at its Executive Producer, Thomas K. Scallen, has assembled the ice show worlds most creative talent to produce, direct and choreograph this seasons brillint new show, titled Celebration. This newest edition of Holiday On Ice opens at the Salt Palace for an stand. Young and old alike will be enchanted by the characters from show TVs Emmy charThe Electric The Company. acters from the Childrens Workshop program will come to life on ice, for the first time ever, when Spiderman-Man- , Fargo North, Decoder, Jennifer of the Jungle, the Show Stopper, Paul the Gorilla, Donald and Daisy Mouse and Millie the Helper skate their way into 11-da- y award-winnin- Dont miss this years edition of best. Course in Defensive Driving g your heart. You can lessen the possibility of become a traffic victim by enrolling the Defensive Driving Course starting in Salt Lake City, Saturday, September 6, in the State Office Building Auditorium at 9:00 a.m. Learn the evasive actions in necessary to avoid a traffic accident. For further information and enrollment, call the Utah Safety The opening production number of Holiday On Ice, Celebration At Council at Large, sets the pace for the fast, snappy skating pair style of Patrice Leary and Doug Berndt. Their exciting style is facinating to A limited number of vacancies! watch. For the children there is fun are now available for training in I galore. Besides the wild Electric the following job skills. Call I Company production number antoday for more information on I other fun time for the youngsters is I Some of the Bubble Country. training as a . . . lucky children get to go for a ride in bath-tub- s SUPPLY SPECIALIST pushed by some of the skaters in the chorus. AUTO MECHANIC The "International Folk number TRUCK DRIVER is costumed a la European Peasant FOOD SERVICE style with intricate designs on the and bodices vests. mens the girls' SPECIALIST The high hats of the chorus girls LANGUAGE EXPERT are made of feathers and are most striking. The music is mostly from (LINGUIST) Fiddler on the Roof and lends itself very well to skating. Marc OPERATOR solo out of Lebel does a this production and the famed SMALL BOAT Holiday On Ice Swing Waltz is also OPERATOR featured here. MOTOR TRANSPORT For comedy, you just simply cannot top Little Lito and his SPECIALIST fabulous, crazy antics. This interTELEPHONE LINEMAN national comedian fairly new to the ice skating field is Richard Candi-Here- . MISSILE CREWMAN 533-585- RADIO-TELETYP- 1. E fast-movin- g There is great talent and promise in this youngster and he's sure to delight you. The adagio team of Otto Hoke and Brigitte Wagner will bring many thrills to you. Their balletic movement and uncanny timing in their lifts give them a distinct style all of their own in this difficult area of skating. For more information on how you may qualify for training call . . . ARMY OPPORTUNITIES Salt Lake City 524-402- 6 |