Fear of Lawsuits Is Not Why We Spend So Much On Health Care [View all]

[ashling]

http://prospect.org/article/fear-lawsuits-not-why-we-spend-so-much-health-care

When you ask Republicans what they'd like to do to reform American health care, the first thing out of their mouths is usually "tort reform." But the fact that all the evidence suggests it would do nothing to cut costs is probably not going to dent their commitment to laws limiting people's ability to sue for malpractice. That's because the truth is that conservatives see this as a moral question as much as a fiscal one. "Frivolous lawsuits" make them livid, and as far as they're concerned a frivolous lawsuit getting filed (even if it never goes anywhere) is a greater outrage than someone who was victimized not being able to get compensation. So the facts aren't going to help much.