Orrin Hatch: “The article points to the ``national problem that doctors say is obliging many of them to flee certain states or give up…”

“The article points to the ``national problem that doctors say is obliging many of them to flee certain states or give up certain specialties--or the entire profession--because of skyrocketing insurance premiums linked to soaring jury awards.'' The article notes, as I am sure my colleagues from Nevada are acutely aware, that the University Medical Center trauma clinic in Las Vegas-- the only Level one trauma center in Nevada--closed on July 3 last year. The 58 doctors who were associated with the trauma center had requested, but had not received, much-needed relief from soaring medical liability insurance costs. Let me give you just one example of the havoc this wreaked. On the 4th of July, the day after the center closed, Jim Lawson could not access the Level one trauma care that he needed. Mr. Lawson was the victim of a serious traffic accident, and on that day, the closest Level one trauma center was more than an hour away by air! Unfortunately, Mr. Lawson did not survive.”