I agree with one of the speakers today who basically said the legal avenue is tough to pursue. I think we need to look at other options too. For instance, many doctors are persecuted by their state medical boards. So I suggest 2 options:
1. In friendly states, encourage those state boards not to discipline doctors in "me-too" actions …
I agree with one of the speakers today who basically said the legal avenue is tough to pursue. I think we need to look at other options too. For instance, many doctors are persecuted by their state medical boards. So I suggest 2 options:
1. In friendly states, encourage those state boards not to discipline doctors in "me-too" actions where there was no actual patient harmed and no complaint by an actual patient. We need this because once one state sanctions a doctor, other states tend to follow suit.
2. Figure out how to get our people on those state medical boards. For instance, in California most board members are appointed by the governor with a couple appointed by the legislature and they are generally all doctors or lawyers. It's a Dem state, any a wacky one at that, so that one is probably out. However, in Tennessee, it's a little different. They are still appointed by the governor, but 3 positions are held by "health care consumers" so there might be an opportunity to get a friendlier board (if they aren't already -- I don't know). Every state is different, and the terms of those on these boards are staggered...but maybe we need to devote some thought here to whether we can make inroads.
There are probably other potential avenues that also don't involve legal action per se. Anyone have any ideas?
I agree with one of the speakers today who basically said the legal avenue is tough to pursue. I think we need to look at other options too. For instance, many doctors are persecuted by their state medical boards. So I suggest 2 options:
1. In friendly states, encourage those state boards not to discipline doctors in "me-too" actions where there was no actual patient harmed and no complaint by an actual patient. We need this because once one state sanctions a doctor, other states tend to follow suit.
2. Figure out how to get our people on those state medical boards. For instance, in California most board members are appointed by the governor with a couple appointed by the legislature and they are generally all doctors or lawyers. It's a Dem state, any a wacky one at that, so that one is probably out. However, in Tennessee, it's a little different. They are still appointed by the governor, but 3 positions are held by "health care consumers" so there might be an opportunity to get a friendlier board (if they aren't already -- I don't know). Every state is different, and the terms of those on these boards are staggered...but maybe we need to devote some thought here to whether we can make inroads.
There are probably other potential avenues that also don't involve legal action per se. Anyone have any ideas?