Mayor pushes new legislation: ob.gyns. in D.C. drop obstetrics.(News)

When Dr. John H. Niles got his malpractice premium bill on April 1, he knew it was finally time to pack up and move his practice out of Washington, D.C.

After 33 years in the city, Dr. Niles moved his practice to neighboring Greenbelt, Md., and gave up obstetrics as well.

"Premium costs drove me from the city," he said.

Dr. Niles isn't alone, according to statistics from the Medical Society of the District of Columbia. Preliminary results from the group's survey of ob.gyns., conducted early this year, show that about 38% reported that they have planned or are planning to move their practices out of the city, and an additional 50% are considering such a move. The group sent surveys to 190 ob.gyns in the District; preliminary results are based on 75 responses.

More than half of survey respondents said they have or will discontinue obstetric services, and an additional 21% are considering stopping.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has dubbed Washington, D.C., one of the 23 "red alert states" that have a medical liability insurance crisis that threatens the availability of physicians performing obstetrics.

The lack of availability of medical malpractice insurance and the high cost are the major factors in that designation, said Dr. Stephen I. Proctor, a Washington, D.C., ob.gyn. and vice chair of the ACOG's District of Columbia section.