On the recordSeptember 26, 2002
The very principle that governs the medical profession is the concept of 'do no harm.' So what does it say about our society when one of the greatest preoccupations for physicians these days is fear of being sued? In fact, a survey conducted by the organization known as Common Good found that 87 percent of physicians now fear potential medical malpractice lawsuits more than they did when they started their careers, 87 percent. Health care costs are drastically inflated when doctors order tests that they feel are truly not medically necessary, but they have to order those tests in case a lawsuit should be brought against them. What they want is to do the right thing by their patient healthwise and pocketbook-wise. We are not talking about limiting economic damages, we are talking about limiting punitive damages. The median medical liability award jumped 43 percent in 1 year, from $700,000 in 1999 to $1 million in the year 2000.
Source
govinfo.gov
