Panel of Doctors Says Malpractice is Not to Blame for Rising Healthcare Costs
At the Avoiding Avoidable Care conference held on April 25-26, 2012, a panel of expert physicians acknowledged that malpractice lawsuits are not a serious contributing factor to the ever rising cost of healthcare. Overall, malpractice related expenditures, which include payments to people who have been legitimately injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice, account for only 2% of healthcare spending.
Amitabh Chandra, an economist who attended the conference, questioned whether overhauling the medical legal system in America would have any effect on controlling costs. His sentiments seemed to be confirmed by other doctors.
For instance, Dr. Jerome Hoffman stated that malpractice is “such an unimportant element of what is going on.” Dr. Hoffman also said that the threat of being sued was much less when he started practicing medicine, but that physician behavior remains similar today. Dr. Hoffman indicated that so called defensive medicine was the result of a cultural fear of uncertainty and fear of getting something wrong, rather than from a fear of being sued.
Although it will not reduce healthcare costs, the effect of so called medical malpractice “reform” will certainly reduce the average citizen’s right to be made whole following a medical injury. In fact, efforts to place caps on damages will affect the most seriously injured patients with the most legitimate claims. Given that these “reforms” will not reduce costs and will negatively affect those in legitimate need of compensation, it is clear that the proponents of malpractice reform are really concerned with increasing profits for medical liability insurance companies and major corporations, not in protecting patients and bringing down the cost of healthcare.
Tip of the hat to White Coat Notes for bringing this story to my attention.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
Read more about Thomas R. Greer