DOCS: Obama plan scaring them off

In his Dec. 10 column, "Justified Right," Timothy Hunt chastised a portion of my Nov. 24 LTE where I mentioned an AMA survey in my opinion that nearly 40 percent of doctors will either retire early or quit if Obamacare is instituted. Here is some corroboration for that.

AMA's American Medical News Feb. 3, 2003, states "A survey by the San Diego County Medical Society found 35% of area doctors plan to stop practicing in the next 3 to 5 years" and "their HMO's deep penetration there makes the city a harbinger of health care trends, experts say." They went on to say "A year ago, a study in ‘Health Affairs' projected a nationwide deficit of 200,000 physicians by 2020."

How about "45% of doctors would consider quitting if Congress passes Health Care Overhaul" - Investors Business Daily Sept. 15, 2009.

Moving to Oct. 1, 2010: "A new estimate from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) pegs the projected physician shortage at 50% worse than it would have been if healthcare reform hadn't passed."

According to CNS News (Conservative News Service) March 15, 2010, the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine stated "29% of doctors would quit or retire early unless a public option was included in which case as several liberal Senators have indicated they would like, the number would jump to 45%."

There are lots more of these; you be the judge. This is an important topic that needs more attention.

JEFF TYLER

Coeur d'Alene