Should I get malpractice insurance NOW!?!

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A certain facility I used to work at is being sued by an atty for a family had a member pass away there.

Since it's the facility being sued and not me specifically, should I get ?

I hope I don't need it,a s I am not the one that did any wrong, but still, I was working there at the time.

What bothers me about Mschrisco's posts is that s/he seems to acknowlege that a nurse who causes harm to a patient has some obligation to that patient, but fails to indicate how that responsibility will be met. Indeed, the poster seems rather flip about discussing ways to avoid that responsibility. Almost like the cop didn't catch me speeding, so I'm off the hook. I find that disturbing and highly unprofessional.

And the firefighter? policeman? auto mechanic? pharmacist?

Shouldn't they be responsible if they make a mistake that harms someone?

I am not anti-responsibility. I am anti-mis-information and anti-propoganda, not to mention anti-myth.

People must take off their rose-colored glasses when it comes to the legal system. You don't run your case..the attorney runs it. Defense lawyers will do ANYTHING to defend their client.. that is how they make money. A mistake isn't simply a mistake, it involves many, many levels, which requires much time, and major money.

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I would wait for a jury award. I don't personally have the resources to make a settlement to a patient, and would have to rely on my insurance to do so for me, which would not occur until a settlement or jury award is made. Unfortunately, that takes time, and the patient would likely suffer financial problems in the meantime. That would weigh heavily on my conscience.

Jolie, most civil suits are settled. Like 3 percent go to court. And many of those are booted out very quickly by the judge. If you do not have resources to give, then you sure won't be paying an attorney for a "jury" result.

If you do not have insurance, then the attorney will not "go after" you. NO MONEY IN IT.

To walk up to a family member and say "I am sorry.. I made a mistake.. because of my mistake, you family member is brain damaged. What can I do to help you?" A lovely, rosey, honest picture. What would be the results?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
And the firefighter? policeman? auto mechanic? pharmacist?

Shouldn't they be responsible if they make a mistake that harms someone?

I am not anti-responsibility. I am anti-mis-information and anti-propoganda, not to mention anti-myth.

People must take off their rose-colored glasses when it comes to the legal system. You don't run your case..the attorney runs it. Defense lawyers will do ANYTHING to defend their client.. that is how they make money. A mistake isn't simply a mistake, it involves many, many levels, which requires much time, and major money.

So why should anyone be responsible to anyone for anything? If your doctor makes an error which causes you or a family member to become disabled will you ask him/her for an apology and let it go at that? Will you fend for your finanical needs on your own? Not likely, but that's exactly the situation you'll leave your patient in. Highly disturbing and unprofessional, in my mind. But not surprising, given the society in which we live where no one seems to take responsibility for his own actions.

So do you carry auto and home owner's insurance? If so, why? If someone were to accidentally rear-end your car, would you accept an apology and fix it yourself? Or would you expect them to live up to their responsibility and pay for your repairs? If you were to accidentally hit someone, would you fill out a police report and file an insuracne claim in order to repair their car? Or would you look for someone else on whom to place the blame? Or leave the injured party to fend for himself? Not much different from our hypothetical liability situation.

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So why should anyone be responsible to anyone for anything? If your doctor makes an error which causes you or a family member to become disabled will you ask him/her for an apology and let it go at that? Will you fend for your finanical needs on your own? Not likely, but that's exactly the situation you'll leave your patient in. Highly disturbing and unprofessional, in my mind. But not surprising, given the society in which we live where no one seems to take responsibility for his own actions.

So do you carry auto and home owner's insurance? If so, why? If someone were to accidentally rear-end your car, would you accept an apology and fix it yourself? Or would you expect them to live up to their responsibility and pay for your repairs? If you were to accidentally hit someone, would you fill out a police report and file an insuracne claim in order to repair their car? Or would you look for someone else on whom to place the blame? Or leave the injured party to fend for himself? Not much different from our hypothetical liability situation.

Very different. auto and home are possessions. We are discussing .

Your employer carries insurance. How many other professions require/request/suggest that the employees carry additional insurance.

Many professions can effect humans adversely. Those people are not requested to carry insurance.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Very different. auto and home are possessions. We are discussing malpractice insurance.

Your employer carries insurance. How many other professions require/request/suggest that the employees carry additional insurance.

Many professions can effect humans adversely. Those people are not requested to carry insurance.

No, not different at all. We are talking about taking responsibility for our actions and the impact they have on others. Responsibility that I suspect you expect of your physician, attorney, and other professionals on whom you rely. Yet you are not willing to provide it to those who rely on you. Your arguments that 1.) Attorneys will only file suit against you if you have insurance, and 2.) Police officers and firefighters don't carry insurance, so why should I? don't hold water. They fail to support a lack of responsibility to your patients. They only illustrate your willingness to shirk that responsibility.

I guess we need to agree to disagree.

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Not wanting to enter into the heated side of this debate, but as a new grad, I've found both sides of the discussion very persuasive - and if nothing else, mschris has provided me with food for thought regarding my decision to take or not take insurance. Everyone in school told me "don't be stupid, take out insurance" and yet when I think about it, some great points are being made.

One thought I have that stands out in my mind is how the cost of insurance generally relates to the need for it: Auto insurance is costly - around $1000/year where I live - and I've never needed to use it. Obviously, other people use it, or it wouldn't cost nearly as much as it does. Life insurance is cheap when you're young (and unlikely to die), but try getting it when you're 60 and a smoker (!). Using the same reasoning - $80-90/year for - it must not be used very often. Insurance companies are in the business of insurance for the money and they make sure when establishing their rates that they're going to make a bunch of it. So... while I'm not saying I won't take out that policy (I likely will), based on the amount they charge for it, I'd say I have as much chance winning the lottery or being struck by lightening as using that policy.

Thanks for the discussion!

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Not wanting to enter into the heated side of this debate, but as a new grad, I've found both sides of the discussion very persuasive - and if nothing else, mschris has provided me with food for thought regarding my decision to take or not take insurance. Everyone in school told me "don't be stupid, take out insurance" and yet when I think about it, some great points are being made.

One thought I have that stands out in my mind is how the cost of insurance generally relates to the need for it: Auto insurance is costly - around $1000/year where I live - and I've never needed to use it. Obviously, other people use it, or it wouldn't cost nearly as much as it does. Life insurance is cheap when you're young (and unlikely to die), but try getting it when you're 60 and a smoker (!). Using the same reasoning - $80-90/year for - it must not be used very often. Insurance companies are in the business of insurance for the money and they make sure when establishing their rates that they're going to make a bunch of it. So... while I'm not saying I won't take out that policy (I likely will), based on the amount they charge for it, I'd say I have as much chance winning the lottery or being struck by lightening as using that policy.

Thanks for the discussion!

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I'm curious how the legal/insurance debate changes when you have a large state-owned facility? I am friends with someone who has a child who now has CP because of an horrific malpractice incident when he was an infant. The facility this occurred at had some sort of malpractice cap - perhaps they were self-insured or state-owned or something? Anyway - when relating the lawsuit story to me, I was told that they had to find someone involved who had decent insurance to get the money they needed for their child - and this person ended up being an employee with private . Are there times when the facility can not be sued - where the employee is singled out for that reason?

Another point to ponder in this discussion...

Thanks!

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I'm curious how the legal/insurance debate changes when you have a large state-owned facility? I am friends with someone who has a child who now has CP because of an horrific malpractice incident when he was an infant. The facility this occurred at had some sort of malpractice cap - perhaps they were self-insured or state-owned or something? Anyway - when relating the lawsuit story to me, I was told that they had to find someone involved who had decent insurance to get the money they needed for their child - and this person ended up being an employee with private . Are there times when the facility can not be sued - where the employee is singled out for that reason?

Another point to ponder in this discussion...

Thanks!

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sorry posted wrong thread

earlier

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sorry posted wrong thread

earlier

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm curious how the legal/insurance debate changes when you have a large state-owned facility? I am friends with someone who has a child who now has CP because of an horrific malpractice incident when he was an infant. The facility this occurred at had some sort of malpractice cap - perhaps they were self-insured or state-owned or something? Anyway - when relating the lawsuit story to me, I was told that they had to find someone involved who had decent insurance to get the money they needed for their child - and this person ended up being an employee with private malpractice insurance. Are there times when the facility can not be sued - where the employee is singled out for that reason?

Another point to ponder in this discussion...

Thanks!

Yes!!! That is obviously an attorney talking, saying "decent insurance to get the money".

Attorneys cannot afford lawsuits unless there is big, big insurance $$$. I have watched the attorneys I worked for get very excited when more than one nurse had .

They will probably sue the facility and the employee, then later drop the facility when they have enough info.

This is a perfect example of why I don't carry insurance.

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