Recent News
Innovation Stifled by Defensive Medicine
Washington Millions of dollars that could be used for innovation in health care delivery often are funneled toward medical liability costs, a panel representing private health systems told a Senate committee on May 23. The witnesses said boosting quality through...
Patients Benefit from Texas Tort Reform
SAN DIEGO – Since the state of Texas implemented medical tort reform in 2003, the number of practicing physicians has increased by 19% per 100,000 population. In addition, hospitals in the state report improved ability to recruit physicians and expand patient...
Without Reforms, Michigan Faces Physician Shortages
It's not in Gov. Rick Snyder's health care plan, but medical malpractice tort reforms could help Michigan deal with a nationwide doctor shortage. Other states — Texas most recently — have overtaken reforms Michigan adopted in the 1980s and...
Physicians, Patients Face Long Road in Liability Lawsuits
(Reuters Health) - Malpractice claims against U.S. doctors are often dismissed, and when they go to trial, the verdict is usually in the doctor's favor, according to a new study.But even when a case is dismissed, the road is typically long for both doctors and the...
Massachusetts hospitals undertake new approach to malpractice cases
In an effort to improve the state’s malpractice system, seven Massachusetts hospitals are participating in a pilot program designed to offer patients harmed by medical errors prompt apologies and financial settlements, reports the Boston Globe. The alliance of...
Results are in – and Americans Understand High Cost of Broken Liability System
NEW YORK, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new nationwide poll finds that heavy majorities of voters across party lines believe that the legal system is increasing health care costs. The survey also found that 66 percent of voters favor taking medical claims out of...
Lawsuits against doctors decline
Ohio’s tort-reform law is having a dramatic impact on medical malpractice cases in the state, with closed claims dropping 41 percent between 2005 and 2010, and average payments declining 38 percent over that period.The Ohio Department of Insurance annual report...
Defense Costs of Medical Malpractice Claims
To the Editor: Despite research on the overall costs of the U.S. medical liability system,1 national data are limited on the costs associated with resolving medical malpractice claims2 — defense costs — and how they vary according to physician specialty. The frequency...
Making the case for federal tort reform
Paul Taylor, Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on the Constitution for the House Judiciary Committee, lays out a comprehensive argument for federal tort reform in The Federalist Papers, the Commerce Clause, and Federal Tort Reform published in the Suffolk...
Romney: Why I’d repeal ObamaCare
Friday is the second anniversary of ObamaCare. It is past time to abolish the program, root and branch. The Supreme Court will soon have a crack at this; arguments about the program's constitutionality open before it next week. But whatever the justices decide in what...