“Medical Malpractice and the U.S. Health Care System”

Medical malpractice lawsuits are common and controversial in the United States. Since early 2002, doctors' insurance premiums for malpractice coverage have soared. As Congress and state governments debate laws intended to stabilize the cost of insurance, doctors continue to blame lawyers and lawyers continue to blame doctors and insurance companies. This book, which represents several years of comprehensive research funded through the Project on Medical Liability in Pennsylvania, an initiative supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts from March 2002 to March 2006, goes well beyond the conventional debate over tort reform and connects medical liability to broader trends and goals in American health policy. Contributions from leading figures in health law and policy marshal the best available information, present new empirical evidence, and offer cutting-edge analysis of potential reforms involving patient safety, liability insurance, and tort litigation.

The opinions expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

Visit Cambridge University Press at http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521614112 for information on how to order “Medical Malpractice and the U.S. Health Care System.”