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Friday, October 25, 2002As the country remains mired in economic chaos, at least two-thirds of litigation was regarded by the meeting as frivolous claims by Argentines desperate for cash. Most savings have been frozen by the government and money in circulation has been devalued to a quarter of its pre-2001 value. Participants at the Association of Private Clinics, Sanatoria and Hospitals conference (Adecra) in Buenos Aires heard that litigation has increased from a few hundred cases a year to 10,000 pending claims. Current cases involve practitioners, dentists, and nurses, as well as health establishments. Many of the cases are being handled by lawyers working on a no-win, no-fee basis--in Argentina, allegations of medical malpractice/ negligence are a matter for the judicial system, rather than professional disciplinary bodies. ...The surge in litigation has prompted most major insurance companies to withdraw professional liability policies. Adecra's president, Francisco Diaz reported that one insurer pulled out of the professional liability market after 1,469 claims in 2001, amounting to US$529 million. Sky-high premiums demanded by the few insurers still prepared to offer cover are beyond what many health establishments and practitioners can afford, leaving clinicians to operate without insurance. It’s the same the whole world over. In Canada, a large malpractice insurer has announced they will no longer provide coverage for those who treat professional athletes: The Canadian Medical Protective Association, which represents 62,000 physicians across the country, has told its members it will no longer provide coverage for those who work for NHL, NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball teams. "Even unknown athletes and retired athletes are receiving financial awards and settlements of $3 million to $5 million (U.S.)," the association said in a letter sent this month to doctors. The association said a recent review of medical legal actions in the United States reveals "an alarming trend of increasingly expensive actions against physicians providing care to professional athletes." posted by Sydney on 10/25/2002 05:52:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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