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RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LIKELY TO IMPACT ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR MANY AMERICANS

Survey Finds More Physicians Considering Limiting or Leaving Their Practices Because of Malpractice Rates

NAPA, Calif., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: The results of this year's presidential election is likely to have tremendous impact on Americans' access to healthcare. According to an informal survey commissioned by The Doctors Company, over 90% of doctors across the country believe that a presidential election that results in an administration opposed to medical-legal reform will prompt more physicians to retire or to relocate their practices to a state with effective tort laws already in place. 72% of physicians surveyed predict that the results of this year's presidential election will directly impact their careers and 49% report that they are considering limiting their practices in response to current medical malpractice insurance rates.

WHO: Dr. Richard Anderson, CEO and chairman of The Doctors Company is available to comment on the results of the survey and the issues that have contributed to the medical malpractice crisis. Dr. Anderson is a frequent speaker on medical liability reform nationwide and has testified in national and state legislatures on how "jackpot justice" is reducing patient access to medical care. His recent study of today's malpractice crisis was published in the American Medical Association's Archives of Internal Medicine and he has written widely cited critiques of the Harvard Medical Practice Study, the Institute of Medicine study on medical errors, and the high cost of defensive medicine. He is the editor of a new book, Medical Malpractice: A Physician's Sourcebook.

POINT OF VIEW: Without effective tort reform, patients in the 20 "crisis states" (as identified by the American Medical Association) will experience decreasing access to care as medical malpractice insurance rates continue to climb. Unable to afford rapidly rising premiums, many doctors in these states are being forced to move their practice to states with effective laws, give up high risk treatments and patients, or close their practice entirely.

Regardless of which candidate wins this year's presidential election, it will be critical that he work effectively with both sides of this debate to truly address the issues at hand, and not dismiss limits on subjective non-economic damages.

CONTACT: For further information, or to speak with Dr. Anderson about this issue, please contact:

Christine Milligan Beth Starkin

Peppercom, Inc. Peppercom, Inc.

212-931-6161 212-931-6108

cmilligan@peppercom.com bstarkin@peppercom.com

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