No wonder drugs are so expensive...

cowboydoc · Jun 1, 2001

Bird,
Actually the AMA is not that powerful. The AMA only has about 40-50% membership. Don't get me wrong they have a voice but it's nothing compared to the insurance and lawyers. I didn't know that about Texas. Actually it's very easy to get another doctor to testify against you. There are doctors out there that that is all they do is act as expert witnesses and testify against other docs. They make about $500 or more an hour for it. As far as malpractice goes yes it is very high. I'm not sure what Texas's are though. You know I agree with that fees are too high. On the other hand I just got my lawyer's fee for closing on that property that I just bought, $1400!!!!

Bird · Jun 1, 2001

<font color=blue>On the other hand I just got my lawyer's fee for closing on that property that I just bought, $1400!!!!</font color=blue>

Wow, sounds like doctors charge more in Texas and lawyers charge more in Iowa (or is the new property back in Idaho?)./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

cowboydoc · Jun 1, 2001

Bird,
No it was here in Iowa. There was some discrepancy on the amount of acres but not $1400 worth. I was pretty shocked on that as well. Then the guy had the gall to charge me for driving to the closing!

Wingnut · Jun 2, 2001

CowboyDoc ... you know the old saying "home is where the heart is" ... and right now my heart is here in Michigan. But truly ... home is wherever I happen to be ...
I have no real preference ... the way my pension will be set up ... I'll get half in US and half in Canadian $$ ... so I might just end up living in both. My wife still has a place down in Texas ... so 6 months in Alberta (the sring/summer) and 6 in Texas sounds like it might work out.
Especially since that would still leave me eligible for Alberta health care ... wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Thanks for the defence but no need ... having strong opuinions and being unafraid (on the 'net or in person) to voice them means that I make more "enemies" than friends ... but the alternative is being a PC wuss ... and I'll just stay "obnoxious".

Mr. Tbone ... I'm sorry that you read into my ramblings that I don't like the US ... I wouldn't be here if I didn't like it ... the people are (usually) pretty darn wonderful ... and although the political system can sometimes disgust me ... I know that someday I'll be actually able to vote. Yeah, I get bitter ... and if the roles were reversed and you were in Canada ... you might be too ... although in Canada - if you pay taxes, you are allowed to vote. Here, I get to pay HIGH taxes (because I work hard) and have absolutely no rights.
If you thank that the US is completely perfect ... well, you have a right to your opinion. I don't happen to think it';s perfect and feel that I have the right to comment on the stuff I don't like. What gives me that right? Well ... according to my view, at least, I support the country and state and municipality through taxes and that gives my voice volume.
If that offends you ... so be it ....
Remember the saying about "they came to get the jews but I wasn't jewish and said nothing ... etc, etc" ... well, I have no intention of meekly accepting anything that might be changed. And I feel no hesitation in trading views with someone like Hess whether I change his viewpoint or not (or he changes mine).
In my view ... if you say nothing ... then you must just agree and find the current state of affairs pretty copacetic. Cool!

too bad that common sense ain't

jdkid · Jun 2, 2001

hi ya Dr Dan
just to go off the drugs abit ..did ya hear about a guy who took his dead cat to the vet?
well the vet looked at it and said"sorry buddy but ya cats dead"
the guy look's at him and said ya sure?try something !
so the vet goes out back and brings in a tabby ,the tabby looks at the cat and walks away .Vet says"yep dead for sure!"
the cat owners in tears and says "please have another go"
so the vet goes out the back and come back with a lab ,the lab looks the cat up and down and walks away .the vet says "yep buddy ya cat's dead !" with this the cat owner leaves .
a month latter the cat owner rings the vet up going nuts"$1000 to tell me my cats dead ya over chargeing me!!" the vet replyed "no, only "$50 to tell ya ya cats dead the other $950 was for the cat scan and lab test"
catch ya
JD Kid

toddler · Jun 3, 2001

Hey Rich,
Read your response. Interesting. I think part of the reason my numbers may be different than yours is that we pay full fee for all off site medical services, and have in house council to off-set legal fees. Have to say that 30% seems high except in OB. 15-20% is what I would have guessed, but I guess I never considered that outrageous. I realize I may be paying some of that because of ridiculous law suits, but when doctors actually do screw up, there are serious repercussions. Do you know the percentage of money insurance companies spend fighting frivilous suits verses what they spend on settlements and losses?
Todd
PS) Yes I do realize that many settlements involve frivilous suits.

cowboydoc · Jun 4, 2001

Todd,
Yes you're right the 30% is ob, anesth., neurosurg., and a few others. If you do surgery it's almost always 30%, except radiologist who are the next highest. Specialty that don't do surgery are the next tier, and gp is the lowest. I'm not sure what the percentage is but I can find out on that. I guess to me it's just kind of depressing when I think that I have to work 2.4 months a year just to pay malpractice insurance and I've never, knock on wood, had a claim filed against me. Then that's not even including all the insurance that I pay for liability and loss/damage at the office, workers comp., auto, etc.