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Santa Fe, NM (KKOB) – 65% of doctors in New Mexico who answered a recent survey, are considering leaving the state to practice medicine elsewhere and of those, 83% said the reason has to do with the potential of stiff punitive damages if they lose a medical malpractice case.
The results of the survey were presented to the state Legislative Finance Committee on Monday and highlights the concerns from physician and hospital groups that the malpractice climate is the leading cause of the state’s doctor shortage.
76-percent of those answering the survey, said they were considering leaving New Mexico, because the malpractice insurance rates are so high.
Another huge concern of doctors, is the shortage of physicians itself. 94% said that they had to delay care for patients because of the huge doctor shortage in the state.
The survey was conducted by the LFC staff with help from the New Mexico Medical Board and sampled 1,215 current and former physicians.
