Malpractice crisis: Causes of escalating insurance premiums, and implications for you.

摘要

What has led to the current malpractice crisis? There are 2 main theories. Physicians, insurers, and hospitals generally blame lawyers and the litigation system for increasing the number of claims filed (claim frequency) and the average payout on claims (claims severity). Attorneys and consumer groups argue that malpractice insurance goes through natural cycles in costs and charges. For the rise in premiums in the current crisis, they particularly blame decreased investment returns and poor pricing decisions by insurers.