Is Medical Malpractice Increasing Health Cost?

This is quite a debate among the medical and legal professions. Many members of the medical community believe that medical malpractice is what is constantly increasing the price of health care.

For example, Charlotte Doctor George Andrinopoulos told WBTV 3 News that "[The average patient has] no concept to what degree that medical malpractice contributes to the health care costs." He stated that 10-20 pecent of the average doctor's salary goes towards malpractice insurance. He also cites "defensive medicine" as a problem, as doctors are now forced to bring in specialists to do more thorough checks of a patient's symptoms, even if the doctor himself doesn't believe the tests to be necessary. The unusual amount of testing inflates the price of health care, or so believes Dr. Andrinopoulos.

National Public Radio reported the behavior of today's health-conscious patients is what's driving up the cost of health care. Due to the bombardment of drug commercials, patients visit their doctors and request the advertised medication.

On the opposite side of the debate are reform organizations, lawyers and consumer advocate groups who believe that other factors are to blame in the consistently rising health cost of health insurance premiums. The Americans for Insurance Reform Organization reported medical malpractice payouts equaled less than one percent of the total cost of U.S. healthcare. That means that all losses recorded (including legal fees, verdicts and settlements) made up less than one percent of the total cost of your healthcare plan. This has been the story for the past 18 years. Furthermore, the average for medical malpractice insurance premiums is less than one percent, as it has been for two decades.

In short, don't believe that you are contributing to the financial problems of the health care industry just because your doctor acted negligently. The fact is that there are many other factors at work that determine the health cost of the nation. If you have been injured or lost a family member because of a doctor's negligence, then don't be pressured into giving up your fight. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm for a free consultation on the details of your medical malpractice case. Call 877-331-4156 to get the truth about health and cost and what legal options to consider.