medical malpractice "demonstration projects"?

[Eric J in MN]

Finally, many in this chamber – particularly on the Republican side of the aisle – have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care. I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs. So I am proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine. I know that the Bush Administration considered authorizing demonstration projects in individual states to test these issues. It's a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/politics/10obama.text.html?pagewanted=all

What are medical malpractice "demonstration projects"?

[soccermomforobama]

1. here is a link to the proposal during the Bush years

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10565&page=81

[Eric J in MN]

2. Thanks. It's worse than I realized.

It's about stopping people from collecting for pain-and-suffering.

A rich person could still say, I would have made millions if not for medical malpractice, therefore I must be paid millions.

But a poor person gets little for pain-and-suffering.

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10565&page=82

[BlooInBloo]

3. It's utter and complete bullshit. It's known that malpractice suits aren't a problem...

(a) because malpractice awards and settlements aren't especially out of whack,

(b) because doctors, their professional organizations, and their lobby refuse to police the relatively small number of doctors fucking up repeatedly, and

(c) because tort reform (aka "restricting citizens' right to sue corporations") has been tried, and has not reduced healthcare costs.

[thoughtcrime1984]

4. I was, admittedly, disappointed to hear that Obama thinks this is a good idea. nt