Conn. ob.gyns. seek malpractice solutions.(News)

Policymakers and physicians in Connecticut are trying to come together on a solution to the state's malpractice insurance crisis--and do it quickly.

Ob.gyns. in the state say a remedy is needed now, before the problem becomes much harder to fix. Connecticut is considered a state where a "crisis is brewing" in obstetrical care, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstetricians already are leaving practice or leaving the state.

Between 2002 and 2004, about 6% of Connecticut physicians (35 out of 555) practicing obstetrics and/or gynecology stopped practicing in the state. During the same time period, about 15% of physicians providing obstetrical care (64 out of 442) dropped obstetrics, according to an analysis conducted by Leonard Ferrucci, M.D., an ob.gyn. practicing in Stamford and chair of the legislative committee of the Fairfield County Medical Association.

Dr. Ferrucci surveyed the ob.gyn. departments at 29 acute care hospitals in the state to document the declining number of ob.gyns.

"We're in the same crisis that a lot of other states are in," said Steven Fleischman, M.D., an ob.gyn. in New Haven and chair of the Connecticut State Medical Society's committee on legislation.

Malpractice premiums for Connecticut ob.gyns. range from about $85,000 to $185,000, he said. But Dr. Fleischman said he's optimistic that the state legislature can pass some meaningful reform this year.

The state legislature had passed a medical liability reform package last year, but the legislation was vetoed by then-Gov. John G. Rowland (R), because it did not include caps on noneconomic damages.