Each year, Illinois loses about half of the physicians who complete a medical residency in our state. Among those who leave, two thirds cite Illinois’ reputation for lawsuit abuse as an influencing factor. An onerous medical lawsuit climate also forces existing doctors to drop or limit certain high-risk procedures and order more tests than medically necessary, a practice known as “defensive medicine.”
States with strong medical liability protections spend less on health care through lower medical liability insurance premiums and decreased spending associated with defensive medicine. They are also more likely to attract and retain a strong physician workforce.
Illinois physicians believe in fair compensation for patients who are harmed while receiving medical care. It is not our intent to impede anyone’s right to file a lawsuit. However, reforms are needed to ensure Illinoisans’ access to medical care. We urge lawmakers to deliberate on the big-picture health care needs of our state when considering lawsuit reform.