Malpractice surprises.

• Author: Peters, Charles
• Position: Tilting at Windmills

It cannot be denied that the cost of malpractice insurance is a problem. But is it really driving large numbers of doctors away from medicine?

According to recent testimony by a state health official to a committee of the Florida legislature, applications for medical licenses in Florida are not only not declining, but actually rose from 2,261 in fiscal 2000 to 2,258 in 2003. The committee also heard from a state insurance regulator who said, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "he often depends on insurance...