President Obama's support for mapractice reform finds favour with 87% of surveyed physicians

Sep 11 2009

Physicians across the US are speaking out on Sermo (http://www.sermo.com), the largest online physician community, discussing the President’s newly announced support for malpractice reform. According to a new survey conducted on Sermo of 3,102 US physicians, 87% stated they are more inclined to support a healthcare reform bill that includes malpractice reform.

94% of physicians who responded say defensive medicine has led them to order tests or procedures that they did not believe were medically necessary. One of the many physician respondents on Sermo said, “I practice defensive medicine every day. Every single day. And I know it. And the only apology/explanation I make for it is that I do it because I have to. I have to. To NOT practice defensive medicine in our current tort climate is to risk licensure, and career, every single day.”

Specifically, when asked what meaningful malpractice reform would mean:

• 88% say there should be caps on pain and suffering damages
• 84% say there should be accountability for expert witnesses
• 83% say there should be caps on attorney profits
• 82% say there should be limits on non-economic damages
• 82% say there should be special medical courts with a jury of medical experts

President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress signals the first time the White House has mentioned that malpractice reform should be a part of healthcare reform legislation. “Make no mistake, the voice of practicing physicians is being heard loud and clear, and we have put these issues center stage,” said Dr. Daniel Palestrant, CEO of Sermo. “We will continue to make the voice of physicians heard until true reform is passed.”

Physicians Want Healthcare Reform

Physicians have long voiced their desire for meaningful healthcare reform. As early as 14 months ago, they made history on Sermo by drafting the "Open Letter from America's Physicians." Signed by over 15,000 physicians, the Open Letter outlined the most crucial challenges physicians face in delivering appropriate patient care. Not coincidentally, the same challenges are the focus of the “US Physicians’ Appeal” signed by over 11,000 US physicians on Sermo and delivered this week to every member of the US Senate. Physicians are directing thousands of their peers to Sermo where their voices can be heard and their issues communicated directly to President Obama and the US Congress.