By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Hundreds of doctors - many wearing white lab coats and sporting campaign buttons - gathered Wednesday at the Statehouse to protest the rising cost of malpractice insurance.

The doctors are supporting a Republican-backed bill that would cap jury awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases. Doctors say large jury verdicts and frivolous lawsuits are driving up their costs for insurance.

Opponents say insurance companies are raising prices to make up for stock market losses.

Mansfield surgeon Robert Maxwell said his insurance premium jumped from $100,000 to more than $300,000 this year.

"We all honestly believe frivolous lawsuits and huge awards for pain and suffering have made this malpractice problem what it is," said Dr. Maxwell, 38.

At least 2,000 people attended, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Surgeon Jean Starr said her insurance doubled this year, to more than $200,000. "We want to be there for our patients and it's making it difficult to do that," said Dr. Starr, 39, of Columbus.

More than 75 malpractice victims, family members and attorneys held a counter rally. They want insurance reform instead.

"Unless you can cap expenses, you can't really cap the amount you receive," said Debbie Morris, 43, of St. Paris in western Ohio.

Ms. Morris uses a malpractice settlement to pay the $3,000 in monthly medical bills for her 21-year-old daughter, Abby, injured after brain surgery five years ago.

Several doctors wore buttons supporting Republican candidates for two Ohio Supreme Court races. Many are upset by a 1999 court ruling that threw out limits on jury awards as unconstitutional.