Doctor's self-insurance found to meet standard

West Virginia is among 20 states the AMA lists as being in a medical liability insurance crisis.

By Damon Adams, amednews staff. July 25, 2005.

A West Virginia surgeon's court victory to insure himself against medical liability may prompt other physicians to pursue similar alternatives to traditional coverage.

General surgeon R.E. Hamrick Jr., MD, won the right to carry his own liability insurance when Kanawha County Circuit Judge James Stucky granted summary judgment in his case against the Charleston Area Medical Center. Dr. Hamrick, of Charleston, W.Va., filed a lawsuit in September 2004 after the center took away his privileges when he insured himself for $1 million.

Evan Jenkins, executive director of the West Virginia State Medical Assn., said it's unclear if many physicians have $1 million to insure themselves, but he said some may consider it.

"Dr. Hamrick's experience will cause some physicians to think about alternatives," he said. "Physicians throughout the country are thinking outside the box on how to address this [medical liability] crisis."

Karen Miller, Dr. Hamrick's attorney, said the doctor's victory validates for physicians nationwide a financially sound alternative to insurance company coverage.

"The good doctors out there do not commit malpractice, and they'll take more of an interest in defending their work," said Miller, who practices in Charleston and is Dr. Hamrick's sister.

American Medical Association policy calls for each physician to be free to determine whether to carry liability coverage as well as the amount of such coverage.

[...]

Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.

Access details

Join the AMA

Vote refines AMA stance on health reform
The AMA House of Delegates rejected attempts to rescind support of a U.S. House health reform bill and any new government-sponsored health insurance plan during the 2009 Interim Meeting.
Story - AMA House - Slideshow