Deciding Where To Practice Based On Caps

As a student thinking about a medical career, or even an achieved doctor, deciding where to practice medicine is a decision you'll have to face more than once in your journey. First you'll make the decision of your career path such as a nurse, family practice doctor, lab technician, internal medicine, surgeon, or another. Then, a just as important decision, is where you will practice.


Many factors go into determining the state and city in which you want to practice. Perhaps you want to stay close to family, or the city you grew up in. Maybe you want to live in a bustling city or on a sandy beach. Maybe you want to go where ever the highest salaries are.

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Your personal life and values are central to this decision. In spite of this, you are also strongly cautioned to look into the medical malpractice caps in the state you are considering.

No medical professional imagines themselves sitting in court and waiting for the verdict of a malpractice charge. The fact is, though, mistakes are made by everyone and a patient may come against you with the law on their side.

In many cases, the personal injury to a patient is difficult to put a number on. Some judges decide to grant an astronomical award while others are more conservative. If you live in a state with medical malpractice caps, you are sure to be more protected.

States such as California and Pennsylvania put a cap on non-economic charges. While there are groups of non-medical professionals against putting a cap on pain and suffering, most doctors feel more secure with the medical malpractice caps in place.

In fact, once Texas put its medical malpractice caps into effect, medical professionals flocked to cities like Houston, Dallas, and even rural areas of the state.

When medical malpractice caps are set in a state, medical professionals have a much easier time getting malpractice insurance. Insurance companies look at the risks and bottom dollar involved with insuring a medical professional.

The companies will offer more availability and lower rates in states like California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and others because of the medical malpractice caps. Insurance companies know the max they will pay before an instance of the court verdict ruling in favor of the patient.

Of course, states with no medical malpractice caps need medical personnel and are bound to pay higher salaries. Nevertheless, there is higher risk involved. Just be sure to weigh all your options before making a commitment to practice.