The Medical Malpractice Crisis That Wasn't

Scott Smith

Contributor

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People in Iowa learned the United States Chamber of Commerce medical malpractice crisis exist in this country doesn't exist after all.

Lawmakers in Iowa, like Ohio, have continuously urged reform in the legal system to cap pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce representing the interest of big business and big media complain that big verdicts drive up the cost of malpractice insurance for medical providers thus forcing them out of business. The Chamber went on to claim if verdicts for personal injury and wrongful death due to medical errors were capped then medical negligence insurance premiums would be reduced. The Chamber then concluded lower premiums would reduce the cost of healthcare and save doctors from moving out of the state.

In Iowa, as it is true throughout the country, there is no proven causal relationship between damage caps and lower malpractice premiums. Nevertheless, the pro-business lawmakers insisted there was a time for a change. Lucky for Iowa, no such "tort reform" passed, no caps were placed on jury verdicts and doctors did not leave the state in droves. Interestingly, the biggest malpractice insurer in Iowa, Minnesota-based MMIC group, lowered it's medical malpractice rates 15%. So much for the medical malpractice crisis that wasn't.

An excellent article on the truth behind the alleged medical malpractice crisis can be found at attorney Gary McCallister's site.