Liability Crisis Looming for University of Louisville School of Medicine

The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) and the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) notified state leaders that the University of Louisville School of Medicine’s OB/GYN Department may lose its liability insurance coverage as of January 1, 2003.

According to the KHA, if that happens OB/GYN Department will be forced to discontinue providing crucial medical services such as the delivery of babies, high-risk pregnancy programs and procedures, fellowship training, training for medical students and services currently provided to Medicaid and low-income patients.

“The University of Louisville School of Medicine is another victim of Kentucky’s healthcare crisis: skyrocketing liability insurance premiums that threaten Kentucky doctors’ practices, local emergency services and hospitals,” said Dr. Donald Swikert, M.D., president of the Kentucky Medical Association, “Kentucky’s out-of-control legal system rewards jackpot-style litigation and drains vital healthcare dollars from medical services and patient needs.”

Both organizations cited medical liability lawsuit abuse as a major force that is driving up the cost of insurance premiums, driving doctors out of business and forcing hospitals to cut back services.

“We have a proud tradition of serving the Louisville community, Medicaid and low-income patients as well as treating nearly 400 high-risk pregnant mothers from western Kentucky,” said Dr. Christina Cook, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of OB/GYN.

“If we are forced to spend healthcare dollars on sky-high insurance premiums rather than medical training and services – all Kentuckians’ healthcare access is at risk. Where will our 140 medical students receive proper obstetrics training? Where will our Medicaid and low-income patients go if we cannot continue to treat them?” asked Cook.

The University School of Medicine and The University OB/GYN Associates, a private practice of 24 physicians at the University of Louisville, state they will make every effort to sustain medical services in the coming year. Cook said, “We are currently working with other insurance providers to resolve this problem. The services we provide to many Kentucky mothers as well as the greater Louisville community are too important for us not to seek a resolution to the problem, but we cannot do it alone..”

The KMA and KHA are asking the Kentucky Legislature to give Kentucky voters the right to protect their own healthcare, by deciding on constitutional change. “Other states have taken steps to limit lawsuit abuse. We want the Kentucky Legislature to do the same. We are asking that this issue receive priority attention during the 2003 Kentucky General Assembly. We must solve the healthcare emergency in Kentucky,” said Swikert

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