Do you think malpractice lawyers are destroying the healthcare system in the U.S?

Question

I have a very strong opinion about this, but I'll withhold it as I want to know yours. Do you feel that medical malpractice lawsuits in the US are mostly legit or bogus? Do you feel that people in the medical community are pointing blame at trial lawers to protect their own assets, or are they pointing blame at trial lawers because they are on the verge of going out of business?

Do you feel this is a high priority problem in the US?

Answer 1

This is a pretty big problem for doctors and the healthcare system. Quoting a doctor friend of mine "i cant even do pro bono work without some bonehead suing me". which is pretty pathetic, lawyers in my experience will sue anyone for anything which makes our socety a waste in some aspects and really they are not protecting anyone but the people in their profession because they have nothing better to do.

Answer 2

Yes it is the result of malpractice lawyers and the insurance companies selling the malpractice protection policies. Tort reform is incredibly important, but will never pass as the congress is made up of trial lawyers. The cost of medical care is directly effected by these greedy attorneys who take 60% of the settlement anyway. Believe me the majority of these lawsuits are not due to the wrong leg being taken off.

Answer 3

Greedy malpractice lawyers is destroying the health-care system, as is greedy patients who try to cash in, so to speak. On every infirmity they have stupidly brought upon themselves.
Doctors who over work themselves and then make grievous errors or who are not competent should be held accountable for their actions of course.
Somewhere between the hospital the lawyer and the court a liaison of medical experts who are not involved should oversee these proceedings and even decide if the doctor, the hospital, the ambulance driver, or other emergency personal, or the patient their self is at fault, and on these findings one could decide if there were actual reason to proceed forward or not.
I feel it should be a high priority of the U.S.. Still I fear it is not.

Answer 4

I think it is BS on it's face!

Md's would love to be able to get away with cutting the wrong leg off, or taking the only healthy kidney out!

In most states, there is a panel, which is comprised of at least 1 or more Md's, which decide what cases will be allowed to sue and which ones won't!

We hear Multi Million dollar awards, but when all is said and done they are lucky to get a dime on a dollar! That is never reported!\

They aren't going out of business, as most that I know are doing VERY well!! Why should they be different than any other licensed professional??

They over book, they see too many people and they are their own worst enemies!

I have no sympathy for incompetent physicians and they SHOULD NOT be allowed to practice. The court system is the only way you are going to weed them out. You think they will??? Ha!

Answer 5

This is a complete misnomer. The only reason medical costs are high in America is because greedy health insurance companies and greedy medical companies are all trying to cash in. These same greedy corporations are pointing the finger at victims of medical malpractice in order to divert their attention from the real reason that health care costs are so high.

Answer 6

Too many frivious law suits, People look for reasons to sue, just read questions on here, asking how much can I get, should I sue for this or that

Answer 7

Its a tossup between excessive malpractice suits and HMOs.

Answer 8

They are ABSOLUTELY!!! And NO it's not being covered as much as it should...and the crooked politicians are raking in the dough on it too, so they won't change it!

Answer 9

I am not sure - maybe it is bad doctors(?)