A recent study challenges the misconception that medical malpractice lawsuits contribute significantly to the cost of malpractice insurance and cause doctors to order unnecessary tests and procedures, thereby increasing the cost of medical care in the United States. Insurance company representatives argue that that doctors order unnecessary and expensive treatments and tests in order to protect themselves from lawsuits. This practice has been called “defensive medicine.” An article in The Washington Post reports the results of a Rand Corporation study that casts serious doubt on this theory.
The study focused on three states that have recently made medical malpractice lawsuits more difficult. The findings show that laws that limit injured victims’ access to the courts have a relatively small effect on the cost of medical care. The study concludes that doctors “are less motivated by legal risk than they themselves believe.” The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and compared emergency room practices in states that recently limited access to courts with states that had not placed similar limits. In the states with more restrictive rules, no significant changes were found in physician behavior.
The medical negligence attorneys of Lopez McHugh are ready to assist you in determining if your injuries are a result of substandard medical care. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury as a result of medical malpractice or medical negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a Lopez McHugh attorney today at (877) 737-8525 to discuss your potential case with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer.
