| While most Republicans and many doctors believe | | | | were to go into effect, the cost of malpractice |
| that putting a limit on how much money should be | | | | insurance for doctors would likely decrease |
| awarded per malpractice suit to quell some of the | | | | substantially, alleviating costs on the patients billing |
| rising health care costs, others point out this is not | | | | charges. This in turn would lower some of the |
| the case. According to a survey done, medical | | | | insurance premiums patients and businesses pay |
| malpractice suits only contribute a very small | | | | out yearly, or so some people seem to be |
| amount to the overall picture. While the notion of | | | | swayed to believe. |
| addressing medical malpractice caps has been | | | | The States' Decision |
| brought to the attention of the President | | | | Certain states actually have instated their own |
| numerous times, he does not feel that a cap is | | | | limits on such lawsuits, yet there is no nationwide |
| necessary to remedy the problem. | | | | capping limit. So if tort reform really only makes |
| Capping Awards | | | | up a small percentage of the health care costs, |
| By capping the amounts awarded, patients might | | | | why are so many people in favor of capping? |
| actually lose out on what monies rightly would be | | | | With studies showing that the actual awarded |
| deserving to them due to a medically negligent | | | | amounts are menial when broken down by state |
| occurrence. The President does encourage the | | | | and suit, it is apparent that perhaps health care |
| idea of preventative medicine which is already in | | | | reform will not have any impact whatsoever on |
| effect. The practice of preventative medicine is | | | | medical malpractice capping. |
| not a guarantee of malpractice suits, either. | | | | Politics of the Matter |
| Preventive health care means less tests being run, | | | | Perhaps the biggest concern with medical lawsuits |
| less financial stress on the health care system, | | | | lies within a realm of politics alone. So for now, |
| and overall better health care for patients. | | | | the only change that might be seen is that more |
| Limiting Malpractice Suits | | | | doctors and patients will start seeing more |
| If a bill to put a limit on medical malpractice suits | | | | preventative health practices in the near future. |