Like many of his physician colleagues in Florida, Dr. David McKalip, a St. Petersburg neurosurgeon, is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Disgusted with inaction on soaring malpractice rates, he's putting his medical practice on hold this month and heading to Tallahassee.
"The (Florida) Senate has chosen to play politics and refused to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence that a $250,000 cap will help solve this problem," said McKalip, who has been in practice locally for three years. "So I'm taking time out, and I hope other doctors will follow my lead."
Though he will continue to see existing patients and emergency cases, McKalip will ask new patients to postpone surgery if possible. He expects about 100 people will have to delay care or get it elsewhere while he lobbies legislators. He figures he'll perform about 15 fewer surgeries because of the decision.
"I'm still going to be able to meet payroll," McKalip said of the impact on expenses at his office, which he shares with two partners. "But I'm not sure I'll be able to take anything home."
McKalip said he plans to go to Tallahassee when the special session on malpractice reform begins June 16. Until then he intends to work the phones, with particular focus on campaign contributors of state Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole.
Noting Jones' support of a law benefiting strip centers developers during the regular legislative session, McKalip said, "I'm surprised Jones could support limits on liability suits from dry cleaning leaks, but not frivolous lawsuits against doctors."
To a neurosurgeon like McKalip, that seems like a real no-brainer.
