Editorial: A ‘crisis’ begging for statistics

Friday, May 10, 2002 | 4:22 a.m.

The world is full of statistics that are accessible within minutes. If you want to know the pitcher who gave up Mickey Mantle's 500th home run (Stu Miller), or any other fact about that historic game, the names and numbers are easily found. Statistics play a critical role well beyond the fun of sports trivia. Stop signs are upgraded to stop lights by studying traffic statistics. A review of statistics is the genesis of health programs. Without statistics to illuminate the scope of the problem, it's difficult if not impossible to find a solution.

Perhaps that's one reason why Nevada's medical malpractice crisis is not producing a mutually agreeable solution. An obstetrician gets considerable press coverage by saying he's not seeing any new patients. Another specialist declares he's leaving the state. Two or three more doctors follow suit, claiming that their medical malpractice premiums are too high in relation to their earnings because too many juries are awarding too many aggrieved patients too much money. Suddenly there's a clamor for drastic state action -- tort reform or allowances for higher doctor fees. Gov. Kenny Guinn is talking about taking just these kinds of actions.

We don't fault the governor for seeing a need to take action -- patients who are pregnant need their medical specialists, as do all patients with specialized health conditions. But what is the scope of the problem? Is it really a crisis? No one really knows because neither the Board of Medical Examiners nor anyone else in Nevada has a register of medical specialists. They know how many total doctors practice in Nevada, but there is no breakdown of specialists. Additionally, no one tracks when specialists quit or leave the state. That means, as a matter of public health, that the state can be caught by surprise when shortages of specialists occur.

With the issues surrounding medical malpractice insurance for doctors receiving attention reserved for crises, it's time for the state to begin charting the relevant statistics.