Obama says surgeons make $40,000 to amputate a limb

In his healthcare townhall meeting in New Hampshire, President Obama states that surgeons get paid $30,000-$50,000 to amputate a limb in diabetic patients. First of all he is way off base regarding the money paid to surgeons because in the hospital where I work I frequently cant find a surgeon to do the amputation. THey obviously don't get paid much especially in a potentially high risk surgery. Why doesn't he talk about medical legal liability reform/tort reform to help reduce costs? Is he being lobbying by the trial attorneys- Oh no way! Maybe if the surgeon didn't have to pay so much in malpractice the cost of this patients care could be less. Lastly how can he discuss healthcare reform adequately when he gets facts severely wrong.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• tort reform
• medical malpractice

[1doctordoctor1]

Here is a true malpractice case. My dad is a family doctor who also sees nursing home patients. He had an 80 year old patient who had a severe stroke and could not eat/walk/talk after the event. FAmily requested a feeding tube. Patient gets diarhea and pressure ulcer/decubiti. Then aspirates/chokes on tube feeds and dies. Family sue nursing home for 20million, my dad for 1million for elderly neglect. Case settles for patient!

Who pays for this? SOCIETY/YOU in your premiums

[1doctordoctor1]

First of all he is way off base regarding the money paid to surgeons because in the hospital where I work I frequently cant find a surgeon to do the amputation. THey obviously don't get paid much especially in a potentially high risk surgery. Why doesn't he talk about medical legal liability reform/tort reform to help reduce costs?  Is he being lobbying by the trial attorneys- Oh no way!

[oran6es]

I, as a surgeon, get from medicare about $600 from medicare about 3 months later after an amputation, which includes post op visits for 90 days. After overhead( 50%), $300, after taxes, about $160. I just paid my dentist $950 for one tooth crown.

My malpractice insurance( ZERO successful claims against me in 20 yrs practice) $60,000/yr.

Hmm. Looks like I give an arm and a leg every year to the government.

On top of 40% assets disappearance last year due to government policies.

[surgbuck]

As a surgeon I challenge anyone to go to Medicare's reimbursement schedule for amputations. It's there on the internet. Depending on the amputation you will find the reimbursement to be around 700-1200 dollars. And that includes the 90 day global period which is free care. Obama is either clueless or not truthful. I'm not sure which one is worse.

[MegaAlexme]

This moron should stop running his mouth about what other people make. The presidents annual salary is now up to 500k a year and all he does is run around and read off a teleprompter and destroy a nations economy. What a useless piece of shit he is.

[guitarplayer4real]

@1doctordoctor1 Lets not forget that this is coming from an ACLU style zealot Harvard attorney who just happens to be the president. And who ever said anything out of this clowns mouth was valid anyway:-) If this mental midget were not president he'd be making some civil supreme court case and demanding millions as remedy (and winning of course) and he'd be making doctors look like paupers as far as income goes. Yes lets talk about attornies like him and $500 plus per hour plus on the low side!

[blackoil911]

@james040280

whatever dude , u just dont understand anything

obama is trying to take preventable steps to reduce people from wasting a whole bunch of cash

and guess one dumb surgeon , u will never win this one , The truth shall set everyone free and u are a phoney thats all no respect for u , never will i be your patient now goodbye

[blackoil911]

@james040280

ok gold digger , obama unlike you cares for peoples well being and usa in a whole , so he is trying to help folks prevent deseases for their own good and for the good of the economy , your dumbass surgeon

[blackoil911]

@james040280

lol all you care about is fucking money , u dont care about the citizens or their well being , Obama is only trying to take preventable steps so people dont get fucked up and drain all the cash in this recession

your a low life dumb ass , and u just watch whats goign to take place i5 years from now

[blackoil911]

@james040280

ok buddy , so your saying the president is a liar now?? or is it cuz u wanna get a higher wage

james u are a dummy just like sugebuck