Dr. Helen Ing once served around 3,000 patients as a Kailua doctor.

Now she's filing and stamping paperwork for her husband. After 18 years, she gave up her private practice fearing that one day she'll be sued.

"I gave up my work as a physician and I am really sad because I feel like I am at the prime of my life," said Dr. Ing.

And she is not the only one.

"This is a problem that is affecting everyone in this State in terms of access to their physician," said Cynthia Goto, president of the Hawaii Medical Association.

Doctors are leaving Hawaii, quitting all together because they say the price of protecting themselves from lawsuits is too high.

Since 2002, the price of malpractice insurance has risen 90 percent. The average specialist pays more than $63,000 a year.

Goto said the price of insurance is going up because lawsuits are getting bigger.

"I have talked to physicians who are actually losing money in their practice," said Goto.

According to the Hawaii Medical Association, 42 percent of surveyed Hawaii OBGYNs said they plan to stop providing pregnancy care for women, 30 percent of Hawaii's Orthopedic surgeons have already left our islands and many medical students said they plan to leave all because of the rising cost of malpractice premiums.

"If you are injured on a neighbor island, chances are there is not going to be a specialist to take care of you," Goto said.

And even in Kailua, Dr. Ing said she knows 8 doctors that have quit, and three times as many who have been sued at least once.

"I miss what I do," Dr. Ing said. "I really miss my patients. The problem is I think the risks are just too high, and to drag a doctor through a lawsuit is tough."

Medical professionals are urging lawmakers to support a bill that would cap lawsuits aimed at "non-economic losses" at $250,000.

---