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Spring Survey Results 2012

Part III - Medical Malpractice: The Benefits of Consumer Education

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Close to a 100,000 people in the U.S. die every year from medical malpractice. Two professionals who have done extensive research in medical malpractice join this program to discuss how to prevent becoming a victim yourself: Tom Baker, Director of the Insurance Law Center at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford and author of The Medical Malpractice Myth, as well as Michael Berens, an investigative reporter from the Seattle Times.

Medical malpractice can come in several forms. There are doctors who will perform unnecessary, harmful procedures just to make a buck, and then there are otherwise good doctors who just weren’t careful, or doctors who try to do a good job but are just not adept. Professor Baker stresses that medical malpractice suits are an important right of the consumer. While lawyers are sometimes portrayed as “sharks” trying to make money off of lawsuits, the problem of people bringing wrongful lawsuits is much smaller than the problem of malpractice victims who don’t bring lawsuits.

Michael Berens has recently conducted investigations of scam artists in the health area that have led to congressional hearings. He discusses his research of “energy medicine” and fraudulent medical machine scams in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the problem of hospitals charging insurance companies to fix their own mistakes.

Listen to this webcast for a fascinating discussion on medical malpractice. Dr. Baker and Michael answer questions from listeners and offer tips on how to get quality medical care, how to identify unqualified physicians and the importance of researching your doctors. Dr. Baker also explains how you can determine whether your doctor has been involved in any medical malpractice suits and how to bring a lawsuit against a doctor with a phony degree. Listen now to learn more about a growing problem in our country.

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EXPERTS & GUESTS:
Michael Berens Michael Berens,
Investigative Reporter, Seattle Times
Mike Berens is an investigative reporter for the Seattle Times. He is known for groundbreaking, collaborative stories that get results. He has been honored with more than 60 regional and national awards, among them a Pulitzer finalist, and has been twice honored with the Beck Award, given to the Trib's top investigative reporter. more >

Tom Baker,
Professor of Law and Director of the Insurance Law , University of Connecticut School of Law
Professor Baker teaches torts and insurance law, and serves as the faculty advisor to the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal. He received his B.A. and J.D. from Harvard University, magna cum laude. Before entering law teaching, he clerked for Judge Juan Torruella of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, practised with the firm of Covington & Burling... more >

TRANSCRIPT:

  1. Introduction LISTEN
  2. Defining Medical Malpractice LISTEN
  3. Researching a New Doctor LISTEN
  4. Misperceptions in Medical Malpractice LISTEN
  5. Modern Day Snake Oil Salesmen LISTEN
  6. Tips for Finding Quality Healthcare LISTEN

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