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01-05-2010 | Editorial

Defensive Medicine and Tort Reform: A Wide View

Authors: David M. Studdert, LLB, ScD, MPH, Michelle M. Mello, JD, PhD, M.Phil, Troyen A. Brennan, MD, JD, MPH

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 5/2010

Excerpt

Hermer and Brody’s1 analysis of the relationship between defensive medicine and tort reform in this issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine deftly tackles a number of the major issues in this vexatious policy area. The authors’ main conclusion is that tort reform is a necessary but not sufficient measure to bend the health care cost curve. Although defensive medicine costs are small as a proportion of aggregate national health expenditures, without reforms to address the liability fear that drives defensive practices, it will be difficult to move physicians toward cost-effective health care delivery. We agree. In this editorial, we offer some further thoughts on the points raised by Hermer and Brody. …

Hermer LD, Brody H. Defensive medicine, cost containment, and reform. J Gen Intern Med. 2010. doi:10.1007/s11606-010-1259-3.

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Mello MM, Brennan TA. Deterrence of medical errors: theory and evidence for malpractice reform. Texas Law Rev. 2002;80:1595–637.

Localio AR, Lawthers AG, Brennan TA, et al. Relation between malpractice claims and adverse events due to negligence: results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study III. N Engl J Med. 1991;325:245–51.PubMedCrossRef

Studdert DM, Thomas EJ, Burstin HR, Zbar BI, Orav EJ, Brennan TA. Negligent care and malpractice claiming behavior in Utah and Colorado. Med Care. 2000;38(3):250–60.CrossRefPubMed

Studdert DM, Mello MM, Gawande AA, etal. Claims, errors, and compensation payments in medical malpractice litigation. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:2024–33.CrossRefPubMed

Mello MM, Brennan TA. The role of medical liability reform in federal health reform. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(1):1–3.CrossRefPubMed

Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, et al. An intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:2725–32.CrossRef

Haynes AB, Weiser TG, Berry WR, et al. A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global population. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:491–9.CrossRefPubMed

10.

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Title: Defensive Medicine and Tort Reform: A Wide View
Authors: David M. Studdert, LLB, ScD, MPH
Michelle M. Mello, JD, PhD, M.Phil
Troyen A. Brennan, MD, JD, MPH
Publication date: 01-05-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 5/2010
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1319-8

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