Spin Doctors

I noticed with no surprise, some dismay – and not a little disappointment in their naiveté – that the two letters in the last issue whining about how vital Proposition 12 is to Texans were from doctors ["Postmarks," Sept. 5]. The question is – 1) are they really buying the insurance industry’s line about Proposition 12, or 2) are they trying to sell us one? If the case is 1), they’re going to be sorely disappointed. Do they really think the insurance companies are going to "pass the savings on" to the doctors to any degree? If the case is 2), who are they kidding? Do we really think that the doctors are going to "pass the savings" on to their patients? Their complaints about the Chronicle’s "vagueness" in opposing Proposition 12 simply show that they didn’t bother to read beyond "Page Two." Proposition 12 isn’t about making things fairer for the doctors – it stands to take power granted by the Texas Constitution to the courts away, putting it instead in the hands of the Lege. Does that sound like a good idea? People who have suffered bodily injury at the hands of malpracticing physicians should be able to sue – and so should the victims of rape and abuse and other crimes who would be affected by this ridiculous amendment.