Charges for Obstetric Liability Insurance and Discontinuation of Obstetric Practice in New York

摘要

The principal objective of the authors study was to determine whether New York physicians facing higher charges for obstetric liability insurance coverage are more likely to discontinue obstetric practice than physicians experiencing lower levels of increases in liability insurance charges. The authors secondary objective was to determine whether changes in the supply of physicians providing obstetrical services adversely affects access to obstetric care. They conclude that while it is possible that malpractice costs and fears of litigation may contribute in a general way to the 'diffuse distress' that is souring many American physicians on the practice of medicine, there is no dose-response relationship between the level of increase in liability insurance premiums and the likelihood of discontinuing obstetric practice in New York.