• 17
  • June
    2011

The Duluth News Tribune reports that brain surgeon Stefan Konasiewicz, who used to practice medicine in Duluth, Minnesota, but now practices in Corpus Christi, Texas, has "a clear medical license with no restrictions."

Konasiewicz's medical practice was restricted in Minnesota after he settled $3.2 million worth of medical malpractice lawsuits - and there were nine of these malpractice suits - in which the families of patients killed alleged wrongful death.

In an eerie parallel, certain news sources have generally reported that out-of-state doctors have been showing up by the thousands to practice medicine in Texas ever since Gov. Rick Perry (possible GOP-presidential contender) signed so-called "loser pays" legislation, as well as a cap on plaintiffs' noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, into law.

As a result of the new Texas law, malpractice insurance rates are supposedly going down. (But we're talking insurance here. Who thinks rates will stay down on account of caps alone?) In turn, the lower rates are attracting doctors to Texas.

This is all supposed to represent a triumph in tort reform.

And the Texas Medical Board seems to be following Perry's "pro-growth" agenda. The Duluth News Tribune reports that the Texas Medical Board would ordinarily "adopt the disciplinary actions and sanctions imposed by a previous state," but it didn't when it came to Konasiewicz.

Are wrongful death suits no longer a cause for concern when it comes to persuading doctors to come practice medicine in Texas?

Source: Duluth News Tribune, "Texas Medical Board doesn't discipline former Duluth neurosurgeon," 6/15/11