Invited commentary--it is time to address the costs of defensive medicine: comment on 'physicians' views on defensive medicine: a national survey

摘要

The common themes running through most of the recent debate over national health care policy, sadly, have been division and partisanship. Though Democrats and Republicans alike agree that our nation's health care system is in dire need of reform, consensus on Capitol Hill has been an elusive commodity. Among the many issues contributing to the seemingly constant division has been what to do about the costs imposed by medical malpractice lawsuits. This is unfortunate because, as studies like the one by Bishop et al have shown, the problems associated with health care litiga-tion are real and widespread, and potential solutions are well within reach.