Side note: There is one thing that the GOP agrees on; they plan to repeal Obama’s health care law, what they refer to as Obamacare. What they don’t agree on is what they will replace it with. The Republicans feel confident about gaining control of the House this year. They cite that there are approximately […]

Side note: Most proponents of medical malpractice reform cite the cost of defensive medicine as the main reason why reform is necessary. Defensive medicine, which can be defined as the unnecessary tests and procedures done solely to protect the doctor from possible litigation, costs the county an estimated $200 billion. I’ve heard many physicians refer […]

Side note: Doctors and key medical groups in New Jersey say the time for medical malpractice reform is now. They blame the state’s shortage of doctors on out of control medical malpractice litigation. Proponents of reform claim that the state’s current malpractice laws leave one of the state’s largest employers, the pharmaceutical companies, in jeopardy […]

Side Note: this article reports on a new study that examined the merit of apologizing for errors in medicine.  Its finding were consistent with previous research – admitting fault for a medical mistake, apologizing, and offering a fair settlement can help reduce legal costs and cut down on claims.  Good communication with patients is an […]

Side Note: this article from New Jersey publication NJ Spotlight discusses recent intensified calls by advocate groups for reform to the state medical malpractice system.  Groups representing interests in medicine, law, business, and nursing have ramped up their efforts in support of tort reform legislation as a response to the growing shortage of physicians in […]

Side note: In an effort to lower the cost of medical malpractice insurance in Connecticut lawmakers have imposed mandatory mediation in all medical malpractice cases. According to the new law all medical malpractice cases must undergo a 120 day period of mediation. After the period of mediation expires, if the two sides cannot come upon […]

Side Note: This article reports on newly released data from the AMA.  The AMA’s survey collected a variety of information on malpractice cases  from a large number of physicians.  The results showed that a sizable majority of physicians over 55 have been sued, and that a majority of doctors will probably be sued in their […]

side note: Once again a state faces a critical choice in keeping high-risk specialties within it’s borders. Nevada faces a crucial test over the law that limits non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits to $350,000. Most physicians, and Cunningham Group, argue that this has allowed physicians from most specialties to remain in the state b/c […]

side note: The U.S. Index of Health Ownership, published by PRI, will not be updated in full for 2010, but there is a 2010 U.S. Tort Liability Index. The Tort Index includes 42 variables divided into inputs and outputs. The top states in inputs are Oklahoma, Texas, and Ohio. Top in outputs are Alaska, Hawaii, […]