In article ,
says...

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:53:44 -0500, "Peter (Yes, that one)"
wrote:

I saw a chart of OB/GYN premiums where the cost in Colorado and
Wisconsin is $20,000 and in NY and Florida $120,000 for the same
coverage. But in Dade county the premium is +$200,000.
So just blaming lawyers won't do as an analysis, though I suspect Dade
county is a lawyer heaven and that accounts for the high premiums there

I suppose the real answer would be to get a comprehensive list of what
doctors pay for various specialties across the country. I will see if
my ex can come up with that. I bet she already knows someone who has
it.
That still ignores the defensive medicine costs.

You have not defined "defensive medicine."
Whenever I hear that phrase used I wonder what it means.
"Unnecessary tests" is often used in conjunction with "defensive
medicine."
Can you describe such a test?
It seems to me that all testing should be done to pinpoint or eliminate
a cause of an ailment, either current or predicted.
It would be a waste of time to bother your ex for premium rates.
They could change tomorrow.
I found this, which is a good unbiased look at malpractice insurance.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03702.pdf

The complexities are worse than I thought.
And reliable data also less than I imagined.
My view is that the federal government with their regulatory authority
is the only entity capable of bringing the pieces together to make sense
of it and improve it. Similar to the FDIC insurance authority, but this
is more complex due to the nature of medical malpractice lawsuits.
This would greatly benefit physicians in some states, but perhaps cost
physicians in other states more because premiums would be federally
equalized.
The goal is taking the malpractice premium worry off the backs of good
physicians, and reducing costs, including tort reform to penalize
frivolous lawsuit filers.
Of course that federalizing will ruffle many "free market" and states
rights feathers.
Oddly, those are the same states rightists want to federally impose
payment caps across all states.
But if you prefer the free market, live with the current "system."
As always, it will charged with political nonsense.
I hear it from my customers all the time, when they attempt to engage me
in such political talk. I reply by addressing the actual issues, and
asking a few questions about policy.
The discussion invariably ends there, and we are back to shoes.
But as long as the customer walks away with a well fitting pair of
shoes, I'm happy with the outcome.
I'm pretty single-minded about that.

Peter