More research indicates tight restrictions protecting physicians and facilities from malpractice suits doesn’t reduce health care costs.
Three states, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas, essentially prohibit suits unless the physician intentionally orders care that s/he knows will hurt the patient. A pretty very high standard, and one that would – one would think – allow docs to practice care with no concern about “defensive medicine.”
That may indeed be the case, however it is also the case that there’s no evidence that this high standard reduces cost. The research, which focused on Emergency Department utilization and costs, found tight limits on suits didn’t reduce the “cost or volume of ED care.”
Moreover, “Legal risk does not motivate physicians as much as some previously thought.” [emphasis added]
This will not still the wagging tongues in the talking heads – nothing will. But they’ll have less to wag about.
What does this mean for you?
Question those assumptions…
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