"The High Cost of Medical Malpractice Insurance for Doctors: What is the Cause? - Show I" was first aired on Sunday March 2nd 2003. Our Guest was Jim D. Loftis, President, Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association.

1. Medical malpractice insurance premiums apparently are increasing - what is the cause?
2. Is it the verdicts plaintiffs are receiving from juries?
3. Is it insurance companies overcharging people they know have the ability to pay?
4. Are jury verdicts against doctors for medical malpractice without any basis in reality?
5. Have the size of medical malpractice verdicts "gone through the roof"?
6. What is responsible for the dramatic increase in average payout on medical malpractice judgments in the last two years. From $18 million to $33 million.
7. Legislation to:
8. Cap non-economic damages at $250,000 - wise or unwise?
9. Limit attorneys' contingent fees - wise or unwise?
10. Require expert certification before suit can be filed - wise or unwise?
11. Legislation now dormant
12. Governor Henry's panel on medical malpractice insurance:
13. Andy Coats - Chairman
14. Representatives from the medical community
15. Representatives from lawyers to defend medical malpractice cases
16. Representative of lawyers who represent plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases
17. What do you expect to come from this panel?
18. Are lawyers actually benefiting by keeping more than 50% of the jury awards? How can this be?
19. Tort reform battle is joined again. This time, focus is the insurance premium being charged to doctors by medical malpractice insurers.
20. What is the cause? Is the cost out of line with the benefit provided by the insurance?
21. Follow-up show we will have Dr. Jack Beller from the Oklahoma State Medical Association discussing the other point of view

Kent Meyers, Mick Cornett, Jim Loftis