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Article: Welcome to 'Tort Hell' - West Virginia, that is. A 'doctors crisis'.(doctor shortage in state caused by legal atmosphere)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- August 20, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The state of West Virginia, no stranger to problems, has a severe one on its hands now: a "doctors crisis." That's what many are calling it, and with good reason. West Virginia is losing doctors every day; communities are going without care; no doctors are coming in-it is almost impossible to recruit. The problem is the legal atmosphere: The state has earned the designation "Tort Hell," or, if you are a plaintiff's attorney, "Tort Heaven." In probably no other state is it as hard to be a doctor, or to remain one. Doctors are becoming desperate; the public, slowly-and in some areas, not so slowly-is waking up. The need for reform is crying. Of course, this need is felt all ...