In an op-ed in the
Charlotte (NC) Observer(10/1), Laurie Sanders, who settled a medical negligence case arising from the death of her son, Christopher, wrote:
"Lobbyists for the medical and insurance industries tout ‘malpractice reform’ as an essential part of a health care bill," but "the reforms they seek would prevent injured patients and their families from discovering the truth and seeking redress in the courts."
Sanders comments:
"One of the lessons of Christopher’s unnecessary death – and my necessary lawsuit – is not that health care providers need to engage in cost-inflating ‘defensive medicine.’ Instead, it is that doctors and nurses must pay attention, communicate with their colleagues and adhere to well-recognized standards of practice."
AAJ Report Debunks Defensive Medicine Myth – By Cecelia Prewett, September 30, 2009 3:05 PM.
Fact is however, that a 2008 report released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) notes that the evidence of “defensive medicine” “is not conclusive, and whether limits on malpractice torts have an impact on the practice of medicine has been subject to some debate.” And the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that even “officials from AMA [American Medical Association] and several medical, hospital and nursing home associations…[said] that defensive medicine exists to some degree, but that it is difficult to measure.”
According to the Institute of Medicine, as many as 98,000 Americans die each year as a result of medical errors. The costs associated with these errors are thought to be as high as $29 billion annually. This does not include the number of patients, or associated costs, of those severely injured by preventable medical errors, but survive the trauma. Clouding the health care debate with myths and distortions, particularly about a malpractice system that makes up 0.3% of overall costs will do nothing to repair our nation’s ailing system.
I have written on this subject many times before: Tort Reform Has No Place In Health Care Reform, Posted by Wayne Parsons September 17, 2009 2:53 PM
Laurie Sanders speaks to all of the Senators and to the President when she concludes:
"To improve patient safety, doctors and hospitals must be accountable for their negligence. Enacting legislation that erodes patients’ access to the courts will diminish the quality of care without reducing medical costs."
See the full AAJ Report with substantiated facts: “The Truth About ‘Defensive Medicine,’”
The public deserves all the Senators including ours here in Hawaii, Senator Inouye and Senator Akaka to fight for medical profession accountability for the 98,000 deaths each year from avoidable medical errors. President Obama should keep his promise to America and enact reform of the health insurance industry, not send Sen. Baucus to make back room deals that put a lie to one of the Presidents strongest campaign issues: taking on the insurance industry.
