Dr. Thomas Falasca

All would increase significantly if the plant operates as planned, said Dr. Thomas Falasca, the treasurer of the Erie County Medical Society.

Those emissions would "significantly increase the incidence of pollution-related illness in Erie County," Falasca said. He predicted increases in lung cancer, heart disease and death.

His figures came from a 2006 report and incorporated data from the application filed by Erie Renewable Energy LLC.

That application is being reviewed by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Erie County Medical Society President Dr. Tom Falasca reports a loss of over 100 physicians from Erie County in the past two years

Erie County Medical Society President Thomas Falasca, D.O., questions the validity of a report that ranks Pennsylvania as having the nation's highest rate of doctors who repeatedly lose or settle medical malpractice lawsuits.

One out of every 10 doctors practicing in Pennsylvania has lost or settled at least two malpractice lawsuits, according to a report published by Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog group.Nearly 5 percent of the state's 39,000 doctors has lost or settled at least three cases, the study said.Pennsylvania is rated first in both categories.

"I found the report to be incredibly one-sided," Falasca said."They used different criteria for (malpractice) payments: money received by the patient, money awarded by the jury, and money paid out by insurers.They continually shifted back and forth among those standards."

West Virginia ranked second in the nation in doctors who lost or settled at least two malpractice claims, at 9.3 percent, or 401 of 4,296 total physicians, according to Public Citizen.And 253 doctors of the 6,847 in Kansas accounted for ranking that state second in terms of three or more malpractice payouts.

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But Falasca said that if the study's information is accurate, several explanations other than physician incompetence are possible.

"It could mean that Pennsylvania has a higher percentage of specialists, such as obstetricians, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, who are more likely to be sued than general practitioners," Falasca said."It could also mean that since Pennsylvania has a high number of medical schools and tertiary hospitals, we see more difficult cases that are more likely to attract lawsuits."

Insurance costs for Pennsylvania doctors more than doubled in 2002 for thousands of physicians.
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"A federal bill would likely stem the flow of physicians out of state," Falasca said."It's what most physicians prefer."

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"That statement doesn't even make sense," Falasca responded.

"I feel the most important measure is the certificate of merit," said Thomas Falasca, D.O., Erie County Medical Society president."That's provided the independent physician is truly independent.… The problem is the number of malpractice cases, the number of awards and the size of the awards."

Falasca closed his own practice in July because of rising malpractice insurance rates and stagnant health insurance reimbursements.He and many other Pennsylvania physicians support a $250,000 cap on noneconomic awards in medical malpractice lawsuits.Pennsylvania currently imposes no cap on such awards.

"It must be part of any long-term solution," Falasca said.
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These changes will take months at least, Falasca added.

"Too late to bring me back, or Winston (Chu)," he said.

Thomas Falasca, DO FACA FACPM

President Erie County Medical Society

Last changed: February 08.2003 2:17AM

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