Letters: Jun. 30, 2003

The Doctor Is Out

The disgust that most physicians feel for the medical-malpractice tort system has to do with more than money [BUSINESS, June 9]. When a doctor is forced to regard every patient as a potential courtroom adversary as well as a human being in need, the mutual trust inherent in the physician-patient relationship is severely damaged. Working 10-to-12-hour days (plus nights and weekends on call) and constantly making life-and-death decisions are stressful enough without having to worry about lawsuits. It is easy to understand why many of my colleagues have thrown in the towel. The next time you get...

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