Spinal pathology has been one of Dr Laric’s special interests over the decades. He was a member of the SA Spine Society for a number of years, and has treated a host of pathologies including trauma, tumours, infection, inflammatory and degenerative conditions, including spinal deformities. Dr Laric no longer practises spinal surgery because of the prohibitively expensive malpractice insurance premiums that are required to be paid for – premiums that continue to increase largely because of the huge amount of malpractice claims that there are. This is because this high risk surgery is to some extent practised by less qualified and less experienced surgeons who have higher complication rates. Dr Laric remains available for conservative treatment of various spinal pathologies, and for second opinions regarding the absolute need for spinal surgery.