As President Obama gears up to attempt a major overhaul of our health care system, doctors and lawyers are digging in for what may potentially be a long battle.
For years, doctors have been arguing that medical malpractice lawsuits are a big reason health care costs are so high. As a result, many medical professionals and medical organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), are insisting that any bill dealing with health care reform must contain a provision that will effectively curb the large number of medical malpractice lawsuits running rampant in our country.
Trial lawyers have a slightly different take on the issue. They have adamantly argued that lawsuits are not responsible for rising health care costs.
President Obama’s health care reform team has indicated that tort reform will be involved in this bill in some way, but they haven’t as of yet offered any specifics. This is a delicate subject. While malpractice insurance premiums certainly contribute to the massive overhead experienced by many doctors, it is not clear that severely limiting these lawsuits is the answer to providing high quality health care at affordable costs. Our tort system serves as an accountability system for medical professionals and ensures patients that they will be properly compensated for injuries suffered due to negligent medical practices.
If one of the goals of this health care reform is to effect a change in the way doctors practice medicine by forcing them to provide higher quality care instead of simply running a barrage of tests to boost the bill, then maintaining our tort system is crucial. Otherwise, there will not be any safeguards to ensure that patients receive the highest possible quality of care at all times.
If you have a medical malpractice claim in the Tulsa or Oklahoma City area, please contact Carr & Carr Attorneys at Law today to schedule a consultation.
