The Medical Malpractice Myth

Baker argues that the conventional wisdom about the medical malpractice crisis is a myth, and "the real problem is too much medical malpractice, not too much litigation." He contends that research shows that amounts paid for auto liability, workers' compensation, and product liability insurance dwarf the amounts paid for medical malpractice insurance, which represent less than 1 percent of health care costs. Only 3 percent of medical malpractice victims pursue lawsuits. Baker calls for evidence-based legislative reform which would include a medical injury disclosure and enforcement process; an apology and early-offer procedure; a supplemental no-fault patient-compensation insurance program; and a new insurance requirement to address the excessive insurance premiums of high-risk specialists.

• | Author: Tom Baker
• | Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• | Publication Date: August 01, 2007
• | Number of Pages: 222 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 0226036499
• | ISBN-13: 9780226036496