ABSTRACT - Medical malpractice insurance rates for obstetricians are soaring in Washington State and around nation, leading many doctors to stop delivering babies; pregnant women in rural areas, where there are already few obstetricians, must scramble to find doctor; even opponents of federal cap on jury awards against doctors admit shortage is serious; graph of malpractice premiums; photo (M) Shannon Minor went to the drugstore last year to buy a home pregnancy test, picked up the local newspaper and read some bad news: her obstetrician, Barbara Pringle, was planning to stop delivering babies.

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