Study Shows Malpractice Payouts Account for Small Portion of Healthcare Costs

By Grant Law Office on June 10, 2013

The idea that medical malpractice claims are a major reason why healthcare costs are so high is a popular talking point. A recent study by the National Practitioner Data Bank, however, showed that large medical malpractice payouts by doctors only account for a fraction of national healthcare expenditures. According to the report published in The Journal for Healthcare Quality, the $1.4 billion a year spent on high payouts only accounts for .05 percent of healthcare costs.

As reported by Reuters, up to $60 billion in costs annually come from unnecessary procedures and tests. This is a considerably larger amount than the cost of medical malpractice lawsuit payouts.

The use of additional procedures can quickly increase the cost of medical care. However, while there are many reasons as to why these procedures are used by doctors, many may simply be looking to increase their revenue. The United States’ healthcare industry is run on a fee for service basis and these unnecessary procedures drive healthcare costs. In any case, it is vital that the well-being of a patient is the first priority for the doctor.

Under the law, medical professionals who fail to provide a reasonable quality of care can be held accountable for their negligence or wrongdoing. Whenever a patient is injured or killed as the result of medical negligence, the at-fault party can be held accountable. Examples of negligent behavior that can lead to a medical malpractice claim include anesthesia errors, mistakes during surgery, misdiagnosis, and birth injuries.

An experienced Georgia medical malpractice lawyer will be able to advise injured victims or their families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options. Call The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. at (404) 995-3955 to learn more about your rights.