INSIDE: SPECIAL HOMECOMING ISSUE Friday, October 4, 2002
Partly Cloudy High 85, Low 64 www.chronicle.duke.edu Vol. 98, No. 32
The Chronicle
Try, try again... The field hockey team seeks to break its streak of 56 losses to the Tar Heels this Saturday. See page 13
THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
of law and medicine?
Engineering Malpractice threatens doctor-patient bond enrollment could rise
A crisis
This is the third story in a three-part series examining rising malpractice costs and the health-care industry. By DANIEL KENNEDY and MIKE MILLER
By WHITNEY BECKETT
The Chronicle
The Chronicle
Health-care professionals are expressing growing concern that the nation’s rising malpractice insurance costs and the constant threat of legal action are damaging the quality of medical care and the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship. “Small communities are losing doctors right and left, so this increase in premiums is very significant,” said Peter Kussin, associate MUMhl|i professor of pulmonary medicine at the Medical threatens care.” Peter Smith, chief of thoracic surgery at the Medical Center, explained that many doctors are left with few choices. “Insurance premiums are either astronomically high or unavailable for certain specialties,” he said. “When the insurance costs are more than you earn, there’s not much to d0.... It’s a substantial tragedy that’s going on in America.” However, physicians say the effects run far deeper than more limited access to health care—subtle, troubling changes are creeping into the doctorpatient relationship. -
Although the University is still only considering a plan to add 200 students to the undergraduate student body, officials believe most of the additional
students would likely enter as
Smith explained that many doctors are now practicing “defensive medicine,” ordering unnecessary and expensive tests —the costs for which are often passed on to patients—to minimize their liability in potential malpractice suits. “The situation starts getting physicians to look at their practices from an economic perspective,” said Robert Seligson, chief executive officer of the North Carolina Medical Society, the state branch of the American Medical Association. “The trend is to order more
ognize they’re operating in a more litigious environment.” Because malpractice insurance normally increases following a lawsuit, doctors are becoming more hesitant to treat difficult cases, Smith said. “[Malpractice costs] have the potential to cause physicians to pause before offering medical services to high-risk patients. Any adverse outcome has the potential to turn into a malpractice suit,” he said. “It’s
engineers The Pratt School of Engineering’s recent increased investments in faculty and facilities—foremost among p e ter -Lange them the $97 million Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering Medicine and Applied Sciences under construction—created a natural inclination to increase the engineering student body, a plan that has been hinted at in recent years, Provost Peter Lange said. However, the potential distribution of new students between Pratt and Trinity College is yet to be determined, and the Board of Trustees—who will ultimately approve the decision—will
See MALPRACTICE on page 11
See MORE STUDENTS on page 8
tests, to be more, cautious. [Doctors] rec-
Homecoming gives Blue Devils chance for 3rd win By JAKE POSES The Chronicle
For the first time since 1998, Duke enters homecoming with a win—not just one, but two. Now the football team (2-3, 0-1 in the ACC) will try to climb back to .500 when it squares off against Virginia (3-2, 1-1) Saturday at noon in Wallace Wade Stadium. Confidence is high for Virginia and Duke, both off major victories, as they prepare for the homecoming showdown. The game is expected to draw a large crowd as many Duke alumni return to see their alma mater, which is off to its best start in the Carl Franks era. “There is a little bit of pressure but it feels nice to have their support,” said fullback Alex Wade. “You see [former teammates] on the sidelines and ifthings get rough you can remember the days when they were out there fighting with you.” The Cavaliers come into Durham with a potent passing attack led by junior quarterback Matt Schaub, who has completed 71.5 percent of his passes and found the endzone 15 times. Ranked third nationally in passing efficiency, the 6-foot-5 junior threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns against Wake Forest and is the reigning ACC Offensive Back of the Week.
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On the "receiving end of Schaub’s bombs is Billy McMullen, one of the best wideouts in the nation. McMullen caught two touchdowns against Duke in last year’s match up and so far this season, despite facing near constant double teams, he has accumulated 345 receiving yards and two touchdowns. “We will try not to give them a good pre-snap read and try to mix up the coverage,” said starting cornerback Kenneth Stanford, who will be faced with the difficult task of defending McMullen. The Virginia passing attack could pose serious problems for the Blue Devils, who are considerably better at stopping the run. “We are much better against the run and we have been susceptible to the pass. We have to do some things to help our defensive backs,” head coach Carl Franks said. If the Blue Devil defense struggles to slow down the passing attack, Duke will have to open up its offense. “We need to score a bunch of points. We need to get to 30,” Franks said. The catalyst for Duke’s offense will be Wade, who has rushed for 493 yards and two touch-
New construction on the Wannamakerfire lane will allow west Campus dorm renovations to continue next summer. See page 4
See VIRGINIA on page 16
THAD PARSONS/THE CHRONICLE
FULLBACK ALEX WADE hopes to tear through Virginia’s defense in Saturday’s homecoming game and lead the Blue Devils to a .500 record.
Duke transportation planners hope to install new shelters at Central Campus and Campus Drive bus stops by the end of the fall semester. See page 5
Mayor Bill Bell and other city officials argued for more aggressive anti-crime measures in response to three recent murders. See page 6