To the Editor:
I have followed with interest the on-going brouhaha surrounding issues involving care and treatment provided (or not provided) by The Villages Regional Hospital, with many of those complaints involving the ER. And I am also very much aware of the criticism leveled against the so-called “trial lawyers” (or ambulance chasers if you prefer) who are allegedly the cause of the so-called “malpractice litigation epidemic” (according to idiots in both state and federal legislative bodies) which, also allegedly, is what is behind the sky-rocketing health care costs in recent years. That, of course, is the ultimate red herring.
I practiced law in the state of Michigan for nearly 40 years before retiring to The Villages in 2004. For 20-25 years of that practice, our firm represented a multi-hospital organization for which we were not only General Counsel, but also defended the many malpractice suits brought against them. Admittedly, the majority of those cases were easily disposed of as not being factually or legally sustainable. But there were so many others that cost a lot of money to dispose of because they did have merit. And over the years I came to realize that the greatest cause of malpractice litigation was that malpractice occurred nearly everyday day. No matter how conscientious, Drs, nurses and other health care professionals do make mistakes. And I have yet to see any concerted and meaningful efforts on the part of the AMA, the AHA, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals, or our own Florida Agency for Health Care Administration address this issue. And I would also suggest that the applicable state licensing agencies treat complaints based on the “old boy network” and refuse to mete out deserved punishment, such as de-licensure, to deserving miscreants brought before them other than the occasional slap on the wrist. As I have suggested before in this column, if anyone feels aggrieved by treatment received (or not) at TVRH, make a complaint to these organizations and, if you receive no satisfaction, get yourself to a competent malpractice attorney and do whatever is necessary to follow up accordingly. I expect that I will be censured for these comments, but I fully anticipate that censure since I know it will be based upon profound ignorance. And I welcome the opportunity to respond to my detractors.
Daniel Andrews
Village of Winifred