Quote:
Originally Posted by creekster
In the words of a most beloved poster here: Link? DO you have nay evidence of just how outrageously large the awards are (IOW, we all assume they are unjustifed; can you prove it)? And do you mena that such awards shouldnt happen ever, or do you mena they are only outrageous if they don't involve the death of a 40 year old father of 4, for example? And do you include awards in states where there are limits on malpractice awards for pain and suffering?
Moreover, the awards are from the juries. People like you (maybe not like you becasue you are, well, unique, but you get the idea) vote for them.
I like how people decry defensive medicine. But I WANT defensive medicine when it comes to treating or examining me or my family. I realize the odds say that I probabyl don't need some of these tests, and a prudent use of resources might not support it, but I don't want to be the loser in that game of chance. I prefer the thought that the doctor will check out possibilities becasue if he guesses incorrectly he might get sued.
I realize the cost of malpractice insurance is a problem, but I am not sure we really want to solve that problem without addressing other issues as well.
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You THINK you want defensive medicine...
Your 3 yr old falls off the bunk bed. No loss of consciousness, small lump on the head, vomits once, but is now acting fine. You're scared because it's your kid so you bring him into the ER.
In Detroit, your kid gets a head CT. No way your child leaves the ER without one. Doesn't matter what your kid looks like. Doesn't matter what you want. You sign out against medical advice if you don't want one, and your visit will therefore likely not be covered by your insurance.
In Indiana, your child is examined. The doctor decides that the likelihood of your child having a significant head injury is low (say <2%--it's NEVER zero) and gives you instructions for watching him at home and what to watch for.
Now fast forward 30 years. In Detroit, your child develops a deadly thyroid carcinoma. You've totally forgotten about that head CT that likely caused it so you're not suing the doctor--you just write it off as something that happens.
Oh...and I didn't mention the little old lady who feels a little dizzy and is in the waiting room waiting for your kid to get out of the CT scanner so the doc can examine her, send her to discover her cerebral hemorrhage that will kill her. If only the doc could have gotten to her sooner. Oh well...avoided the lawsuit.
Oh yeah...there's also the increase in insurance premiums due to your kid and a thousand others that's going to make the blood pressure medicine unaffordable to the man who will die of a heart attack.
These are all huge issues that we face every day. I assure you I'm not painting the worst case. I've worked in Detroit and that is EXACTLY what happens. I've seen people die in the waiting room because the CT scanner was tied up with bullshit. We've all seen insurance premiums go up. And there are studies coming out every day about the dangers of radiation exposure from medical testing.
Defensive medicine is good for no one. But our hand is forced. After all, tests costs me nothing. Malpractice costs me a lot.
I could think of a hundred similar examples, I assure you. I practice this every day.