Medical Malpractice Reform Talks Begin
In Washington D.C. this week, healthcare and medical malpractice reform received a lot of attention, with the House of Representatives voting to repeal the historic health care reform bill and the House Judiciary Committee beginning new discussion on medical liability reform.
Medical liability reform is often aimed at reducing the amount injured patients can recover when harmed as the result of medical malpractice. If you have been injured as the result of medical malpractice, an experienced Hawaii medical malpractice attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Reformers often attempt to tie the cost of medical malpractice verdicts to the cost of medical liability insurance and ultimately the cost of health care. Little or not evidence exists to back-up this claim. Rather, statistics have shown that other factors play a far greater role in the cost of insurance than the cost of lawsuits. Placing restrictions on the amount those injured can recover only serves to further victimize those affected by medical errors, delays in diagnosis, and other catastrophic medical injuries.
Additionally, despite claims that doctors perform unnecessary tests in order to avoid being sued, i.e. “defensive medicine,” studies cast doubt on how widespread this practice is and conclude that any effect defensive medicine has on overall healthcare spending is minimal.
According to the Pacific Business news, the debate concerning healthcare in Hawaii is much more “subdued” than on a national level, with local healthcare leaders generally positive about healthcare reform. Further, due to locally controlled nonprofit hospitals and insurance companies, Hawaii has comparatively low health care costs.
For more information, or if you believe you have been harmed by medical negligence, please contact the Hawaii medical malpractice attorneys at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP.
