I just got fired too, and have been told this is very common. To me, it just goes to show that the health of women and babies doesn't come first--it is all politics. Arranging back-up care (and finding care one can afford) is responsible and should be admired, not a cause to be let go.
backup mw/ob 'fired' me
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Fear of being sued is exactly why they fired you. Technically, you could sue them if something went wrong and since they don't have malpractice insurance, they are a greater risk of losing everything. Just because you don't have an OB doesn't mean you can't transfer to a hospital if you need to.
Originally Posted by elus0814  I don't see it as a liability thing since this particular practice (according to the initial paperwork and big sign on their wall) has "chosen not to carry malpractice insurance". It's not like I could even sue them if something went wrong - why are they taking such an issue with me? |
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I suppose I could if they were negligent but if a doctor chooses to not carry malpractice insurance they legally can do so if they can prove they have $250,000 in assets, which is the maximum amount a non-insured doctor can be liable for. Most doctors who go this route have a trust set up for that amount and that is the maximum they can have to pay - it doesn't matter how negligent they are or how much harm they do. When I was there I asked the midwife how it was possible that they don't carry insurance and she simply said "it's too expensive". I feel that it shows how little they care about their patients. They need to realize that they can make mistakes and if they do they should have the insurance to cover it. What if a life long injury was caused? $250,000 wouldn't make a dent in the expenses involved.
I can still go to the hospital, of course, if need be. The kicker is that since there are only two practices in town there would be a 50% chance of getting stuck with their doctor on call anyway.
Originally Posted by smpayne Fear of being sued is exactly why they fired you. Technically, you could sue them if something went wrong and since they don't have malpractice insurance, they are a greater risk of losing everything. Just because you don't have an OB doesn't mean you can't transfer to a hospital if you need to. |
I can still go to the hospital, of course, if need be. The kicker is that since there are only two practices in town there would be a 50% chance of getting stuck with their doctor on call anyway.
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That does not really make sense to me. Having insurance does not showing caring. Patient care does. And if you knew how expensive malpractice insurance was for OBs you may understand why they don't carry it. I know many OBs tha are no longer practicing OBs because of that very reason (my FP doctor is one of them).
As for being dismissed because you have other care. I did not know it could go any other way. I have never found a doc that would be "back-up". And if I let them know I was planning a HB, I was dismissed immediately. It is all about liability to them. Sad, but true. To get back up care, I have always had to hide my true intentions (not lying, just not divulging the true facts).
Originally Posted by elus0814 I feel that it shows how little they care about their patients. They need to realize that they can make mistakes and if they do they should have the insurance to cover it. What if a life long injury was caused? $250,000 wouldn't make a dent in the expenses involved. |
As for being dismissed because you have other care. I did not know it could go any other way. I have never found a doc that would be "back-up". And if I let them know I was planning a HB, I was dismissed immediately. It is all about liability to them. Sad, but true. To get back up care, I have always had to hide my true intentions (not lying, just not divulging the true facts).
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With several doctors in my family I have every idea of how much malpractice insurance costs. It is a cost of doing business. Not carrying it is akin to not carrying car insurance and just telling the other party after you get in an accident 'sorry, but insurance was expensive and I didn't think I would get in an accident'. Any profession has costs of doing business and being a physician is no different. A doctor who chooses not to carry insurance is being greedy - simple as that. They want to be paid in full but don't want to foot the bill for the costs of doing business. Doctors without insurance are pretty much saying to their patients that they feel they cannot make a mistake, which is a disservice to the patients and proves that they don't care about patients that get hurt.
Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty That does not really make sense to me. Having insurance does not showing caring. Patient care does. And if you knew how expensive malpractice insurance was for OBs you may understand why they don't carry it. I know many OBs tha are no longer practicing OBs because of that very reason (my FP doctor is one of them). As for being dismissed because you have other care. I did not know it could go any other way. I have never found a doc that would be "back-up". And if I let them know I was planning a HB, I was dismissed immediately. It is all about liability to them. Sad, but true. To get back up care, I have always had to hide my true intentions (not lying, just not divulging the true facts). |
In Canada there is no such thing as a "back up OB"... if you have to transfer to the hospital, you get the OB on call (similar to giving birth there in the first place) I wouldn't worry about not having a back up OB but congrats on jumping into Homebirth with both feet
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Sh*t happens. Most people don't get a dime when life screws them over. $250k isn't chump change.
Originally Posted by elus0814 With several doctors in my family I have every idea of how much malpractice insurance costs. It is a cost of doing business. Not carrying it is akin to not carrying car insurance and just telling the other party after you get in an accident 'sorry, but insurance was expensive and I didn't think I would get in an accident'. Any profession has costs of doing business and being a physician is no different. A doctor who chooses not to carry insurance is being greedy - simple as that. They want to be paid in full but don't want to foot the bill for the costs of doing business. Doctors without insurance are pretty much saying to their patients that they feel they cannot make a mistake, which is a disservice to the patients and proves that they don't care about patients that get hurt. |
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WOW that is really good. I'll have to remember it.
Originally Posted by aylaanne When I went to see my "backup" OB this time, I stated it this way: You don't have to meet with me, and you don't have to coordinate care with my HBMWs, but if something goes wrong or if we feel the risk of staying home is too high, we're coming to your hospital, so it's in both of our best interests to have some conversations ahead of time. |
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That's good. I was told by my insurance company (tricare, military benefits) that it is illegal for a doctor to 'fire' a patient based on personal opinions, which this (in their opinion) was but since the midwife was the one who signed the letter (on practice letterhead) it's a gray area since it is legal for a midwife to dismiss a patient for personal reasons.
I suppose I can't complain too much since because this was the only 'in-network' practice with midwives and I would like to see a midwife they have put in a referral for an 'out of network' midwife of my choosing. I gave them the name of the homebirth midwife and they said it was fine. I spoke with her again and they are going to pay 100% of her charges instead of 80% or 50% (depending on if I changed plans or not) so in a strange way the hospital midwife has saved me anywhere from $850 to $2500. Maybe I should write her a thank you note
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I think you're right, it would be in their best interest to continue care in one form or another.
Originally Posted by aylaanne When I went to see my "backup" OB this time, I stated it this way: You don't have to meet with me, and you don't have to coordinate care with my HBMWs, but if something goes wrong or if we feel the risk of staying home is too high, we're coming to your hospital, so it's in both of our best interests to have some conversations ahead of time. |
I suppose I can't complain too much since because this was the only 'in-network' practice with midwives and I would like to see a midwife they have put in a referral for an 'out of network' midwife of my choosing. I gave them the name of the homebirth midwife and they said it was fine. I spoke with her again and they are going to pay 100% of her charges instead of 80% or 50% (depending on if I changed plans or not) so in a strange way the hospital midwife has saved me anywhere from $850 to $2500. Maybe I should write her a thank you note
I think you're right, it would be in their best interest to continue care in one form or another.
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