[sirI]

And, I still have to respectfully disagree with you, Nurse4years.

[zamboni]

The way I understand it, at least in Texas, is that unless the nurse has told everyone and their MeeMaw that she/he has liability insurance, it is not known by the plantiffs until the discovery phase...by which time the nurse has already been named in a suit. They don't know ahead of time, and go after the money.

As for the other theory here (if I'm understanding it correctly) that the insurance company is only going to protect their money...well yeah. That's kinda the idea. The named nurse is the vehicle to their money. To protect their assets, they have to protect the vehicle. If the covered nurse is found liable for an action, then her insurance pays up. I don't think anybody here is under the delusion that the insurance company cares about us as good, kind people....but they assume the risk of covering me in exchange for me paying my premiums (that hopefully for all are nothing but pure profit for them). As long as I carry an active policy, we're in the same boat.

[nursemike]

Originally Posted by Rouxlucitt

Absolutely not! I do not recommend ANY insurance! We live in a sue-happy society. If you have no money they will no go after you! If you do, you open yourself so silly lawsuits!

I doubt it very often occurs that a patient or his loved ones sits down and contemplates whether to sue his nurse. More typically, they're suing the facility, one or more physicians, and anyone else involved in his care. It costs no extra to add the nurses' names to the list.
Even if you have little or no assets, you have an income, and a judgement against you can be attached to your wages, so along with giving a chunk of your pay to Uncle Sugar, you'll be giving a pretty good chunk to the plaintiff. Instead of working for $20/hr, you'll effectively be working for $15 an hour (or whatever). But only until that $1million dollars (or whatever) is paid off. Plus legal fees, of course...

[RainDreamer]

My auto insurance company is totally robbing me each month too, yet I still pay for it .... even though I've never been in an accident and have never had to use the insurance.

I'll still keep paying my $98/year to NSO ..... robbing me or not, at least I'll have peace of mind.

[onyx77]

Originally Posted by Nurse4years

Litigation costs thousands of dollars, coming out of the attorneys pockets, and takes years. They don't go after the average working joe- no money in it. They go after insurance money. That is the system.
Insurance money...money from insurance...lots and lots of money-
-and it involves a big system of malpractice lawyers, hospital lawyers, insurance lawyers, and in this system all of those lawyers make lots of money.
Malpractice insurance companies have their own lawyers to protect THEIR money. How could anyone possibly believe that for the meer price of 100$ a year-he/she would have their own personal counsel to defend him/her against the baddies? 100$? A law firm at your disposal?
If you believe that, then you also say things like "I wouldn't let them settle- I would demand they take it to court". (love that one)
This is a dance they do-(called for jury duty? tell them you have worked for attorneys- they don't want you- you know the dance.)
It is a very different situation than people know- thanks in extremely large part to propoganda from insurance companies and attorneys.

Like zamboni said - how does a pt know if you have insurance or not? They certainly know that we have income and assests! If I lived in a paper box I wouldn't worry about losing my house. But, I don't live in a paperbox and I do want to keep my house and I would like to be able to continue to send my son to private school. I can't do that if my money is going to someone else.
I suppose you don't agree with any type of insurance then. How about car insurance, house insurance, health insurance, life insurance?

[Nurse4years]

Attorneys are not going after the working joe. No money in it.
If there was money in it- we would see it happening all the time.
Doesn't happen- but insurance wants you to THINK it happens- this is called propoganda.
They want you to THINK that you would have this big law firm looking out for YOUR interests if you give them 100$ a year.
I used to think the same thing- wouldn't have ever worked without malpractice insurance- until I worked for the attorneys. Wow- did it ever open my eyes.

[Nurse4years]

Status of malpractice insurance is found in discovery.
1. Pt is injured-suspected malpractice or negligence (no money without damage)
2. Attorneys obtain med records, sent to Professional as indicated for opinion (Nurse Consultant, Physician)
3. Suit is filed, listing all possible participants
4. Discovery-this is how additional insurance is located-

This is just the 4th step (generalizing) out of tens or hundreds, depending on complications.

Malpractice insurance is completely different from homeowners, auto, life...
But they use those as examples to keep up the (yes, I'm gonna say it) propoganda.
Insurance companies are a business. Out for the money. As a business, they use PR to increase their profits. Notice how involved insurance companies are with nursing schools, giving seminars, lectures with those wonderful meals, training videos. All free. Why is that? Kindness of their hearts?
How quick people are to accept what they are being told by PR. But, that is what business of PR is all about, isn't it?

Again, it is a small price to pay for your peace of mind. It gives me greater peace of mind to NOT carry malpractice insurance.

I never worked OB, L&D, very little experience with peds, renal, neuro, wouldn't even consider discussing them.

Not a lawyer- but working with them, I saw things from a completely different view than as a nurse.

[RainDreamer]

Of COURSE they are out to make money, I don't think anyone here is dismissing that fact.

There's a fine line between being insured and not being insured ..... it's a gamble you have to take, weighing out the pros and cons of each side. Being insured isn't a gamble .... NOT being insured is the gamble. And I'm not much of a gambler, but that's just me.

To each their own.

[rouxlucitt]

Nursemike... do you know anyone that this has happened to? OR is this just another "fantasy scenario" created to scare people into buying insurance? I am more than willing to listen to real FACTS!
I have been a RN for more than 20 years! When people decide to sue they WILL go where there is money and it is very easy to find out who is insured and who is not.
I will agree to disagree... If you want to buy "peace of mind" go for it. I am not wasting my money thank you very much!
I sleep very soundly at night!


I am SO with you nurse4years!

[nursemike]

Originally Posted by Rouxlucitt

Nursemike... do you know anyone that this has happened to? OR is this just another "fantasy scenario" created to scare people into buying insurance? I am more than willing to listen to real FACTS!
I have been a RN for more than 20 years! When people decide to sue they WILL go where there is money and it is very easy to find out who is insured and who is not.
I will agree to disagree... If you want to buy "peace of mind" go for it. I am not wasting my money thank you very much!
I sleep very soundly at night!


I am SO with you nurse4years!

I don't know anyone this has happened to as a result of a nursing malpractice suit. I've known a few people who've had their wages attached. What I stated is not a fantasy--it's a legal possibility. Nor was it my intention to scare anyone. There are arguments that can be made for and against, of which the price of the insurance seems least significant. Of course, that cheap price reflects the insurance company's projection that it won't be paying out a lot of money.

I can only think of one type of insurance that's pretty much certain to pay, eventually, and that pays the survivors, not the insured.