Quote:
Originally Posted by joannej
Sounds like you have a lot of adhesions after all of the abdominal surgery you have had, which proposes a big risk for surgery. I have a friend who almost died from another abdominal surgery because of all of his adhesions from previous surgeries. It was touch and go after the surgery for him. Recognizing that, I assume the docs don't want a lawsuit if the surgery fails. It must be terribly frustrating for you. I wish you the best in the future. Perhaps Mayo will have a better answer for you.
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Legislators vote to give Shands Jacksonville immunity from large malpractice claims
Bill setting $200,000 cap could save hospitals $12 million in insurance:
(5-13-2011) Florida lawmakers wanted to shield Shands Jacksonville from large medical malpractice claims so much, they did it twice.
The Senate voted overwhelmingly April 28 (2011) to pass a House bill that extends the lawsuit protection that the hospital's physicians already enjoy to nurses and other medical workers. The bill also affects Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Six days later, the House approved a Senate measure guaranteeing the same protection to six university-affiliated hospitals statewide, including Shands Jacksonville and its sister hospital in Gainesville.
The Republican-led Legislature's anti-lawyer mood didn't stop there. Lawmakers passed sweeping medical liability changes, including imposing tougher rules against expert witnesses, prohibiting as evidence insurance-company determinations and extending immunity to physicians volunteering at school athletic events.
Proponents say the Shands bill, which needs Gov. Rick Scott's signature to become law, would save the Gainesville-based hospital system $12 million a year in insurance premiums. That savings could help defray the more than $100 million the two hospitals write off annually in providing care to indigent patients, according to Shands officials.
"A limitation on liability will significantly reduce your insurance costs," said Tony Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida. "I think they [Shands officials] are looking at every avenue to cut costs and retain their mission."
Shands spokesman Dan Leveton was unable to make a hospital representative available for comment.
Facing a more than $3 billion shortfall, lawmakers aimed to save money from one of their biggest line items: Medicaid. Cuts to the state and federal insurance program are expected to shave $15 million off Shands Jacksonville's revenues.
Read more at Jacksonville.com:
Legislators vote to give Shands Jacksonville immunity from large malpractice claims | jacksonville.com