LITTLE ROCK — With the nation's health care system under intense scrutiny, this is as good a time as any to examine the way we handle claims of medical malpractice.
Certainly, there is room for improvement. Too many doctors who are conscientious and devoted to helping patients fear the consequences of a false or exaggerated claim against them. On the other hand, preventable medical errors are a leading cause of injury and death, and many wronged patients never gain redress. . . .
The goal should be to reduce errors and malpractice, not just malpractice claims.
The Institute for Medicine estimates thatmore than 98,000 persons die each year in the U.S. because of preventable medical errors.
The Obama administration has said it will provide grants of up to $3 million to states and health systems that are experimenting with new ways to handle medical liability claims. One idea attracting interest is a process similar to the one used for workers compensation claims.
As an olive branch to conservatives reluctant to embrace health care reform, a change in the way we handle medical malpractice isn't a bad idea. But any lessening of a patient's right to seek justice in court must be offset by better oversight and procedures to reduce medical errors in the first place.
Editorial, Pages 16 on 09/30/2009