Oklahomans are different. In the recent general elections, contrary to the rest of the nation, the majority in every county in Oklahoma voted for McCain. In the elections for the Oklahoma State House and Senate, both chambers acquired a Republican majority for the first time in state history. The message our voters sent to the state capitol was clear — we want change!
“Change” is the watchword famously used by Obama’s supporters. “Change” is also what voters from Sequoyah County are demanding from our state legislature when it comes to vital issues for economic survival and medical care in these tumultuous times.
One of the major items on the legislative agenda is lawsuit reform. The recent elections have brought Oklahoma closer to reaching a meaningful comprehensive lawsuit reform for the first time in the state’s history.
Lawsuits are the nightmare of the small business owner and the doctor. The “lawsuit lottery” environment in our state, where the outcome of a lawsuit is highly unpredictable and potentially devastating to the defendant, has made medical practice in rural areas unattractive to graduates of medical training programs. Texas instituted a now-famous lawsuit reform in 2003. Consequently, our neighbors to the south have experienced tremendous growth in applications for Texas medical licenses and resurgence in supply of doctors, including specialists, to needy rural areas. In contrast, rural Oklahoma’s growing need for doctors has not been met by a significant increase in doctors. Our per capita doctor to population ratio is one of the lowest in the nation.
And why would a new graduate of an American medical program, including Oklahoma’s own, look at a practice in rural Oklahoma? The risk of losing one’s livelihood from a single frivolous malpractice lawsuit without merit is too high in our state to attract new physicians, especially since other states are more protective of their medical professionals.
Our malpractice insurance rates are high. With the “graying” of our population comes an increased need for new primary care doctors to care for the elderly patient. Our doctors are also aging, too, with the average age of 54.
Our growing need for physicians will not be met if Oklahoma does not create some boundaries to protect physicians from catastrophic frivolous lawsuits. A meaningful lawsuit reform can help change that and improve access to medical care in rural Oklahoma for many Oklahomans.
In 2006, a comprehensive lawsuit reform passed in the House and Senate but was vetoed by Gov. Henry. In this upcoming legislative session, the political makeup of the House and Senate favor passage of a similar bill. State legislators must heed the will of Oklahomans, as evidenced by the election results, and vote for change in our lawsuit atmosphere.
Please contact Sen. Corn at (405) 521-5576 or e-mail him at cochran@oksenate.gov and Rep. Smithson at (405) 557-7315 or e-mail him at glensmithson@okhouse.gov. Urge them to vote for lawsuit reform.
Oklahoma voters have spoken loudly. Let’s urge our legislators to vote for what is beneficial for all Oklahomans!
BERT N. CORLEY, M.D., SALLISAW
