The President's misguided comments on medical malpractice

During yesterday's state of the union address President Obama stated that he is "willing to look at other ideas to bring down [health care] costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.” As usual, it is more than likely that there will be no follow through on this comment (it is not the first time), but it is very unfortunate that he keeps mentioning it. Comments like this will continue to give credibility to the already thoroughly discredited notion that taking away injured patients' legal rights will help reduce health care costs and will result in better and more efficient health services. There is simply no empirical support for this conclusion, and plenty of support for the opposite. For previous posts on this and more information and sources go here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here OR just click on the "medical malpractice" tab on the right side under the heading "search for posts by topic." According to a story in the Blog of the Legal Times, Obama’s remarks were welcomed by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, but criticized by the Center for Justice and Democracy which called Obama’s remarks “disgusting” and said the President has decided "to throw victims of medical negligence under the bus." See here.