It Ain't Rocket Science Folks

Wall Street Journal (06.21.05), via Washington Monthly:

"The rising cost of medical-malpractice insurance has hit many doctors, especially surgeons and obstetricians. But one specialty has largely shielded itself:

Anesthesiologists pay less for malpractice insurance today, in constant dollars, than they did 20 years ago. That's mainly because some anesthesiologists chose a path many doctors in other specialties did not. Rather than pushing for laws that would protect them against patient lawsuits, these anesthesiologists focused on improving patient safety. Their theory: Less harm to patients would mean fewer lawsuits."

Once Seen as Risky, One Group Of Doctors Changes Its Ways

Now there's a novel concept: the fewer people you kill or injure, the fewer times you'll be sued.

Kevin Drum comments, "(I)f doctors and insurance companies spent half as much time trying to reduce medical errors as they did trying to rig the legal system in their favor, they might save lives and reduce malpractice premiums."