Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Doctors Discuss the Cost of Medical Malpractice Lawsuits, Rising Health Care Costs at Conference
Doctors who attended a conference on avoidable care last month said medical malpractice is not a primary reason for increasing medical costs. Panel members at the conference addressed the rising costs of health care and discussed ways to help reduce expenses and provide better patient care. Medical malpractice attorneys from Messa & Associates reported on this fact earlier this year in a blog post entitled Medical Malpractice Lawyers and Litigation NOT Breaking the Bank.
Presenters at the conference pointed out that only a small portion of the estimated $2.5 trillion that the United States spends on health care each year is spent on medical malpractice cases. Of that amount, only about $10 billion goes towards payments to injured patients and administrative costs. An estimated $46 billion is spent trying to reduce the threat of litigation.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys: Physicians Order Unnecessary Tests Because They Fear Failure to Diagnose Lawsuits
Physicians at the conference also addressed the practice of “defensive medicine,” a type of medicine defined by unnecessary tests and procedures ordered in an in effort to avoid medical malpractice lawsuits. Some experts have opined that medical expenses have skyrocketed due to medical professionals who engage in “defensive medicine” in order to avoid being accused in a failure to diagnose lawsuit. Rather than investigate symptoms and attempt to properly diagnose and treat patients, critics say that some doctors will opt to order expensive tests that may not be needed.
However, one panelist attributed the practice of defensive medicine to fear of uncertainty and anxiety about getting something wrong and being blamed for it, rather than the fear of being sued. Still most agreed that a change in doctor’s practices could be helpful in improving the quality of health care while controlling costs.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Philadelphia and New Jersey
The Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling cases resulting from medical errors. Our extremely skilled team of medical malpractice attorneys and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries as a result of a medical error, failure to timely diagnose a condition, or any other type of negligent care received by a medical provider, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.