The 5 Myths About Medical Negligence

This recently issued report by the American Association for Justice sets forth in well-supported detail why medical malpractcie lawsuits are NOT a significant factor when it comes to driving up the cost of health care.   To the contrary, the problem is the disturbing increase in the number of cases in which medical negligence results in grievous injuries to patients.  As detailed in this AAJ report, the number of lawsuits are declining, and the amounts being paid out in compensation are also declining.  But instances of medical negligence are increasing.  If the insurance companies are serious about being on "our side" when it comes to reducing healthcare costs, they should focus their multi-million dollar lobbying campaigns on improving treatment safety protocols, rather than trying to deny innocent victims their right to compensation in cases where serious medical negligence has been proven to the satisfaction of a jury.

Tort Reform Is A Scam

I don't practice medical malpractice law, but I have something in common with most lawyers who do.  I know that so-called "tort reform" is a scam, and that most tort reform advocate groups are nothing more than highly paid fronts for the insurance industry.  Their sole motive is to increase insurance company profits at the expense of people suffering grievous injuries as the result of negligent medical treatment (or in the case of auto accident cases, negligent driving).  If you'd like to read a thoughtful article on why tort reform (i.e limiting medical malpractice cases) will do nothing to reduce health care costs, check out the attached opinion piece from the Wall Street Journal written by Rahul K. Parijh, MD, a treating physician who knows what he's talking about.  Any rebuttal comments or thoughts are welcome and will be posted.