Liability on their minds

Quick View. Oct. 2, 2006.

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42% said they were never interested in ob-gyn. Their top reasons:
Interested in a different specialty	83%
Lifestyle balance	64%
Fear of high liability premiums	21%
Other	16%
47% considered ob-gyn but chose another field. Their top reasons:
Interested in a different specialty	61%
Lifestyle balance	56%
Fear of high medical liability premiums	32%
Fear of being sued	27%
11% chose ob-gyn.

A survey of 400 fourth-year medical students in Florida in 2005 found that 86% of those planning a career in obstetrics and gynecology intend to leave the state because of its medical liability climate.

Students who did not choose ob-gyn for a career path were asked to pick four from the following reasons: fear of high liability premiums, fear of being sued, more interest in a different specialty, the fact that they are male, desire for a specialty with higher reimbursement, desire for a specialty with a better lifestyle, or other.

Source: Aaron Deutsch, MD, "Why are Fewer Medical Students in Florida Choosing Obstetrics and Gynecology?" presented at the Florida Obstetric and Gynecological Society annual meeting

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