Posted by Tina
It would be much smarter to make changes to our health care system one concern at a time. That way we could gauge the effect and track the savings in clear and concise terms that all Americans could understand. One place to begin is suggested today by Charles Krauthammer who says tort reform would save PATIENTS billions:
When a neurosurgeon pays $200,000 a year for malpractice insurance before he even turns on the light in his office or hires his first nurse, who do you think pays? Patients, in higher doctor fees to cover the insurance. *** And with jackpot justice that awards one claimant zillions while others get nothing — and one-third of everything goes to the lawyers — where do you think that money comes from? The insurance companies, which then pass it on to you in higher premiums. *** But the greatest waste is the hidden cost of defensive medicine: tests and procedures that doctors order for no good reason other than to protect themselves from lawsuits. Every doctor knows, as I did when I practiced years ago, how much unnecessary medical cost is incurred with an eye not on medicine but on the law.
Common sense says this man is right on the money! Smart business practice suggests it would be good for the PATIENTS to get those insurance costs down. Who is causing health care costs to skyrocket?
TORT LAWYERS…that’s who. They get the bulk of the money from the lawsuits they wage…not patients or their families. Something must be done to bring this major health care expense down and protect patients with legitimate legal grievances.