In recent years there has been much discussion regarding what has caused the spike in insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals. Critics have argued that this spike has affected the quality of care given to patients as well as health care costs. Lawsuits and greedy lawyers they say! However, the truth remains that malpractice lawsuits exist to protect patients from negligent physicians. An even harder truth is medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely rare, with less than 1% of physicians nationwide having to fight any serious suits against them. Malpractice claims per year have seen a steady decline since 1990. But malpractice insurance premiums have rose steadily since that time. Not because the number of claims have risen but because insurance companies have seen a decrease in their return on investment. As soon as the country recognizes insurance companies are in the business to make a profit, lawyers will remain the scapegoat for them to continue to line their pockets.
-Roosevelt Allen
