"SPECIAL TIME: 7:00p-8:00p - Jim Loftis - Dr. Jack Beller Debate: Who or What Is Responsible for the Increase in Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums?" was first aired on Monday April 7th 2003. Our Guests were Jim D. Loftis, President of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association and Dr. Jack J. Beller, President-Elect, Oklahoma State Medical Association.

1. The parties will each be asked some of the following questions.
2. After they answer, the other party will have a chance to respond to their answer.
3. Why have dramatic increases in medical malpractice insurance premiums occurred? Patient jury verdicts; patient settlements; insurance companies overcharging doctors.
4. "The size of jury awards have gone through the roof." True or untrue?
5. This has been called an artificial crisis and that Oklahoma Doctors are being soaked by insurance companies trying to recover from bad investments and 9/11. What do you think?
6. If only 6% of the medical malpractice claims go to jury trials and 79% of those jury trials are decided in favor of the Defendant. How can that skew the system so badly?
7. "Far from being the protectors of patients from incompetent physicians, attorneys actually are the benefactors by keeping over 50% of jury awards in medical liability cases. How can that be?
8. The proposed legislation includes a limit on attorney's contingent fees. What kind of limit and why is that necessary? What effect will it have?
9. Proposed legislation - the Medical Association has proposed a plan to include a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages. Why is that necessary - how would that work?
10. The proposed legislation requires expert certification before a medical liability lawsuit could even be filed is part of the proposal. How would that work and why is that necessary?
11. Parties have the opportunity to question each other.
12. Parties each present a closing statement.