To my patients:
Normally the GYNFO.COM E Newsletters
contain medical information that I feel my patients will find
of interest, however, with the importance of Proposition 12
and the upcoming vote, I wanted to share the below information
with you.
Unfortunately, the Houston Chronicle
has taken an opposition stance against Proposition 12, a state
amendment to cap non-economic damages for medical
liability lawsuits.
Here is my response to the editorial
staff of the Chronicle.
With much indignation, I have read the
Chronicle's endorsement to vote "no" for Proposition 12 in
this coming special election. As a conscientious physician
who has practiced in Harris County for the past 27 years, it
is beyond my comprehension how your editorial staff could take
such an adversarial position.
I have seen medical liability rates soar
over the past ten years, and with predictions of higher rates,
the ability to practice medicine will become an economic
burden for most physicians. Proposition 12 caps only
"non-economic" damages, and not the costs for health care and
loss of wages. It will provide affordable medical care, while
restoring confidence in our state's medical community as well
as improving accessibility to our health care system.
The Chronicle's Editorial board's
endorsement to vote against this necessary state amendment is
the antithesis of a city newspaper's responsibilities ... to
inform its readers not only on newsworthy stories, but to
enlighten the public on issues that will improve urban
infrastructure to maintain services that are essential for
better living. You have failed to do so, and I will not
support a publication that is influenced, obviously, by
political and monetary issues. I will be terminating my
subscription to your newspaper.
Shame on you, Houston Chronicle!!
Not only have you brought indignation to physicians in a city
with the largest medical center in the world, but have
disgraced the state of Texas as well as creating an
embarrassment to the citizens of the city of Houston!
Randy A. Birken, M.D.
Please consider voting “yes” on
Saturday, September 13, 2003 for this very important
Proposition. If successful, this will provide benefit to
patients not only for accessibility to health care, but a
reduction in the costs of medical care that is compounded by
the expense of frivolous and exorbitant medical liability
settlements. If this proposition loses, the only ones to gain
are the greedy personal injury attorneys.
Thank you.
