Trial lawyers and medical malpractice.

[Dees]

I watched Evans and * this afternoon on C span with a panel of guests discussing trial lawyers, malpractice awards, malpractice insurance premiums, etc. Of course the panel was skewed in favor of limiting awards, trimming tort actions and putting trial lawyers out of business. I suspect there is some truth to physicians practicing defensive medicine and ordering needless exams in fear of being sued (or fear of insurance companies). Apparently OB/GYN's have been hit particularly hard with increases in insurance and have simply given up their practice.

Here are the numbers I hear and read about. Medical litigation amounts to about one percent of total health costs in this country and that about seven percent of the price of insurance for medical pros is attributed to awards and settlements.

I think the right is smoking up the situation to advance a policy of personal greed. I didn't hear one single piece of data to support a conclusion that malpractice awards and settlements are totally to blame for huge premium increases and driving up medical costs in this country.

Greedy trial lawyers and get rich quick plaintiffs are basically to blame the medical woes in this country according to the admin's experts.

But do not fear. * says it is a very high priority with him and to listen to his SOTU speech in January.

[DesEtoiles]

1. Bush says juries can decide DEATH but not monetary damages

That's what makes sense to you when you value money more than human life.

[Timebound]

2. How much is your spine worth? How about your uterus?

These are questions the right should ask themselves before they are so quick to say we need to restrict medical damages.

Shrub and Co. need to get a clue (like THAT will ever happen).