Insurance lobby is using doctors

To the editor;

I have a suggestion for Dr. Scot Pringle, the obstetrician who thinks tort reform will make his medical malpractice insurance rates go down. It takes the form of a famous quotation: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

In 1985, after a terrible season in the stock market, the insurance industry tried the same scam it's working now. There was a "crisis" in tort law. The legislature responded. Caps were introduced in medical malpractice cases. Did medical malpractice insurance go down? No. But insurance profits surely went up.

New data released by the Insurance Services Office show that U.S. property and casualty insurance companies increased profits by 1,000 percent in 2003 over 2002 to $29.9 billion. With dramatic increases in capital gains and investment income as well, the private insurance industry increased its surplus by $61.6 billion in 2003, according to the study.

The real reason Republicans like state Sen. Peter Kinder want tort reform is that trial lawyers tend to support Democratic candidates. That's the reason that Kinder jumped to the defense of the tobacco companies back in 1998. Tobacco companies traditionally support Republicans. It wasn't about the constitution. It was about campaign contributions.

Pringle is being taken for a ride and used by the insurance lobby. The public knows well how fair the average insurance company is. That's why the insurance companies are putting words in his mouth.

ANTHONY L. DeWITT

Jefferson City, Mo.