Document Detail


Tort Reform Is Associated with More Medical Board Complaints and Disciplinary Actions.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22321519     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Previous reports have confirmed that comprehensive tort reform in Texas (enacted in 2003) was associated with fewer lawsuits and less litigation-associated cost. We hypothesized that complaints to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) increased after tort reform. STUDY DESIGN: To test this hypothesis, we compared complaints, investigations, disciplinary actions, and penalties against physicians before and after comprehensive state tort reform measures were adopted. Data were obtained from the TMB for a 15-year period (1996 to 2010). RESULTS: When comparing the period before tort reform (1996 to 2002) with the period after tort reform (2004 to 2010), TMB complaints increased 13%; investigations opened increased 33%, disciplinary actions increased 96%, license revocations or surrenders increased 47%, and financial penalties increased 367%. All of these increases were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: After tort reform in Texas, the total number of complaints, investigations, disciplinary decisions, license revocations or surrenders, and financial penalties from the TMB significantly increased. In Texas, tort reform was accompanied by legislatively directed, enhanced oversight and activity of the authority (TMB) charged with regulation of the medical profession.
Authors:
Ronald M Stewart; Joseph D Love; Lisa A Rocheleau; Kenneth R Sirinek
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2012-2-7
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American College of Surgeons     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1879-1190     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2012 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-2-10     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9431305     Medline TA:  J Am Coll Surg     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; University Hospital, San Antonio, TX.
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