The Other End of the Stethoscope by Diana Reed M.D

Author:Diana Reed, M.D. [M.D., Diana Reed,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781468544107
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2012-02-29T00:00:00+00:00

LAWYERS AND HEALTH CARE COSTS

Lawyers play a large role in causing the escalation of health care costs. Malpractice claims have not only been increasing in number, but the amounts of jury awards have become extravagant, as well. The lawyers keep anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of a successful verdict award, and this can amount to millions for a single successful case they litigate. Incentives like these have a tendency to raise the rates of cases without merit, the so-called frivolous lawsuits being filed. It is easy to understand the motivation to sue a doctor, in the hopes of a successful verdict that will provide the patients and their lawyers with instant riches. This has had a twofold effect on costs. The malpractice liability insurance companies raise their rates for doctors, and doctors learn to practice “defensive medicine.”

Physicians’ malpractice liability insurance rates have gotten out of control, doubling and even tripling in just the past several years. In some states, the rates are simply unaffordable under any circumstances and physicians are moving to other states that have lower rates. Insurance companies report spending tens of billions of dollars in defending and paying out legal expenses. Thirty billion dollars could go a long way toward providing everyone in this country with top-quality health care. The malpractice issues that are crippling America’s physicians are discussed more thoroughly in Chapter 4.

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