re: #789 Creeping Eruption

So your thoughts on “tort reform?” I see it come up a lot, but no one seems to be able to tell me why it is a necessity, only that “trial lawyers” are greedy, etc. and it will solve out health care problems. No one who says these things has yet been able to point me in the right direction.

In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that I too am a “litigator.” In fact, I was once a med/mal “trial attorney.” I am also married to a physician, so before people pile-on about med mal insurance premiums putting doctors out of work, and runaway med mal cases, I have intimate knowledge of both sides of the coin.

Having said that, I am looking for numbers, if anyone has them, about how “tort reform” is supposed right the craziness that is our health care system.

Here’s a quick shot at the logic and a few numbers.

The focus seems to be mostly on punitive damages rather than lost wages and actual medical expenses.

I’d be interested in your comments…

/I’m not an attorney, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express last nite