Your Aug. 17 editorial, "Doctor shortage is the real health care challenge," was correct to include, along with the shortage of primary care physicians, tort reform as one of the biggest challenges to be overcome if health reform is to be meaningful. These two issues go hand-in-hand.
Insurers have placed primary care doctors at the lowest end of the pay scale compared to specialists. At the same time, they overburdened them with menial chores like getting permission for CAT scans or for patients to see consultants, and other distractions, wasting time that would be better spent with patients.
When the threat of a frivolous malpractice suit is added, many primary care doctors lose their idealism and hesitate, or simply refuse, to take on new patients, particulary those with complicated medical problems. Others practice defensive medicine, ordering unnecessary tests just in case a suit is filed. That, of course, raises the cost of health care for all of us.
When insurers pay primary care doctors reasonable rates for their labors, and the threat of frivolous malpractice suits are eliminated, more students will be attracted to the primary care field. There are other ways to increase the number of primary care doctors, but that's another letter.