Conference turris::womannotes-v1

49.0. "Mothers at Risk?" by NACHO::CONLIFFE () Sat Jul 19 1986 22:20

It seems to me that the health of the woman of today is being placed at
risk by a somewhat unusual external agency, namely the insurance companies.

We've mentioned in a previous note that contraceptive research is grinding
to a halt because of the lack of liability insurance (while I do not
believe that the woman should take full responsibilty for contraceptive
measures, she definitely 'bears the brunt' of the consequences). 
Also, given recent high court decisions about the liability of doctors
present at the birth of a child (where a doctor may be sued up to 20
years after the birth for negligence, or whatever!), many OB-GYN
specialists are getting out of the business. 

So, in a sense, we have two contributing effects. The woman is more likely
to get pregnant, and less likely to be supported by an adequate doctor in
the resulting delivery. Given the current debate over abortion, I am assuming
that most women will be coerced into completing the pregnancy.

What can we do? Comments? Debate?

		Nigel

 	Although not directly about OB/GYN liabilities, this months
	issue of Consumer Report had an interesting article on
	the current issue on liability suits and the role of insurance
	companies in this "crisis".  They blame insurance companies
	for a lot of the problems.

	...Karen