Tort Reform. Yeah, that's the answer to the medical mess

[Dennis S]

Be careful what you wish for:

http://www.kens5.com/news/Local-woman-di...87819.html

[$tevie]

Don't get me started on Tort Reform. Just another case of convincing the masses that money flowing upward is good while money flowing downward is bad.

[Rolando]

Tort reform in exchange for National Health Care?

[cbelt3]

A tragic circumstance, and it happens. People suffer. Every person dies eventually. But...

Hmmm... so if you have National Health Care, where you CANNOT sue the government, it will be.. better ?

Personal note:

My father died.. quite possibly as a result of an ER mistake ( Intubation into his esophagus instead of trachea, his heart may have been oxygen starved as a result...) after he was struck by a car walking across the road. Mom is a lawyer.

We did not sue. What would be the point ? He was dead. Mom donated his organs, corneas, bones, tissues, skin, etc.. He had life insurance, so we were able to bury him. The Intern who made the mistake learned from it... hopefully nobody else will die.

Talk to a doctor about the chilling effect predatory personal injury lawyers have on their profession, and the medically unnecessary tests that they order just to be absolutely sure they don't get sued if something happens. A chunk of 'insane medical costs' can be attributed to that.

[decay]

here in PA, the super-high insurance costs have driven doctors out of practice or out of our state.

thanks for that, legislators.

[mattkime]

>>Hmmm... so if you have National Health Care, where you CANNOT sue the government, it will be.. better ?

If it allows doctors to be more honest about their mistakes and therefore take action to prevent and correction them, then yes, it will be better.

[Chakravartin]

cbelt3 wrote:
We did not sue. What would be the point ? He was dead.

If he was sole-provider for your family and you'd have been turned out on the street because of the medical bills, maybe you'd have felt differently.

Hospital billing offices are the last place on earth to find a drop of compassion. If your insurance isn't ideal, they'll gladly take everything you own and then some.

Sometimes suing is the only way to keep afloat.

[Spock]

cbelt3 wrote:

Hmmm... so if you have National Health Care, where you CANNOT sue the government, it will be.. better ?

In the UK there is a National Health Service that CAN be sued for negligence.

Win Win ?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics...laims.html

OK, win win for the lawyers at least.

[$tevie]

I never understand the assumption that the US will implement a National Health Care system which would incorporate all of the bad things seen in other countries and none of the good things. I'm being sarcastic, btw.