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Brain surgeons avoid brain surgery because of insurance costs

BMJ 2002; 325 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7367.736/d (Published 05 October 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;325:736
  1. Roger Dobson
  1. Abergavenny

    Neurosurgeons in the United States are facing annual insurance bills of up to $300 000 (£190 000; £306 000) a year.

    Some surgeons are no longer performing high risk neurosurgical procedures in an attempt to lower their professional liability insurance costs, according to the results of a new survey. “Based on this survey data, it seems that brain surgeons are no longer performing brain surgery,” says Dr Stephen Papadopoulos, president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

    The survey has been published in order to influence the debate currently going on in the US Congress over limiting awards that can be made to plaintiffs in malpractice suits. Last week the House of …

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