Malpractice Insurance Drives Out Docs

L A S   V E G A S, July 27 -- — More than 22,000 babies were born in Nevada hospitals last year, but the odds are about 10,000 pregnant women in the state will not be able to see an obstetrician before their babies are born.

Candice Sansonetti is more than five months pregnant. She has taken time off from her job as a cigarette girl at a Las Vegas casino hoping to enjoy her pregnancy, but she spends most days on the phone, anxiously looking for a doctor.

"I opened up the phone book and started going in alphabetical order. And every single doctor that I had called said that they weren't taking anybody that was pregnant," said Sansonetti, balancing a telephone book on her ample lap.

The crisis began when St. Paul Cos., the country's leading provider of malpractice coverage, quit the business in December 2000.

The company insured 60 percent of Nevada doctors. Citing falling profits because of high jury awards in medical malpractice law suits, St. Paul did not renew policies. The insurance policies run out this summer.

Scrambling for Coverage

As Nevada's doctors scrambled for alternative coverage, they were hit with rate rises of 100 percent to 400 percent, a staggering increase. So, some doctors retired early, others stopped seeing new patients, and still others left the state.

Dr. Mark Turner has been delivering Nevada babies for 13 years, but he recently dropped obstetrics from his practice.

Obstetricians, such as Turner, pay some of the highest rates because a mistake in their profession brings some of the biggest jury awards.

"When there's no limit on what can be awarded and with a jury system that seemingly has a perception that insurance companies as well as physicians have money trees in their back yards, it's an untenable situation," Turner said.

"It's a business decision on their part. If it's not a fruitful field and market to work in, then you limit your losses and you get out of it," he said, referring to the insurance companies.