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  • Title: Attitudes of Florida family practice residents concerning obstetrics.
    Author: Larimore WL.
    Journal: J Fam Pract; 1993 May; 36(5):534-8. PubMed ID: 8482938.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The cost of liability insurance for obstetrical care and the fear of eventual litigation are reasons commonly cited by family physicians for not delivering babies. METHODS: Separate surveys were mailed to residency directors and third-year residents in Florida family practice residency programs to determine the attitude and practice plans of recently trained family physicians in regard to obstetrics. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty residents completed civilian family practice residency programs in Florida from 1986 through 1990. Only nine (2.8%) delivered babies the first year after residency. The major reasons that third-year residents gave for not planning to deliver babies included fear of being sued and the cost of malpractice insurance. Residents' estimates of first-year insurance costs were 350% higher than actual premiums. Furthermore, residents believed that the risk of being sued for the obstetrics portion of their practice would exceed the risk for the nonobstetric portion. CONCLUSIONS: Residents' estimates of the cost of malpractice insurance and their malpractice risk for delivering babies appear to be greatly exaggerated. These views are primarily obtained from nonresidency sources.
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