Medical Malpractice Myth #3

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The medical malpractice myth that doctors are fleeing the profession of medicine is contradicted by the facts. The number of practicing physicians in the United States has been growing each year. For example, in 2007 there were 941,000 physicians working in the US, an increase of more than 20,000 doctors. The growth in the number of doctors is outpacing the population growth in the US. According to the American Medical Association’s own figures there are now twice as many doctors per 100,000 population than in 1960. In states where nonecomonic damages in medical malpractice cases are capped, the number of physicians is less than those states who have no such damage caps.

Doctors are not leaving the medical profession en masse. The statistics provided by the American Medical Association shows us that this is merely a myth and only distracts us from the discussion of real healthcare reform in this country.

Holly Haines
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