title: Medical liability reform crisis 2008.
abstract: The crisis of medical liability has resulted in drastic increases in insurance premiums and reduced access for patients to specialty care, particularly in areas such as obstetrics/gynecology, neurosurgery, and orthopaedic surgery. The current liability environment neither effectively compensates persons injured from medical negligence nor encourages addressing system errors to improve patient safety. The author reviews trends across the nation and reports on the efforts of an organization called "Doctors for Medical Liability Reform" to educate the public and lawmakers on the need for solutions to the chaotic process of adjudicating medical malpractice claims in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 01008 JPP, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Stuart-Weinstein@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Stuart L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D006076:Government; D006176:Gynecology / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal / Q000191:economics; D008318:Malpractice / Q000191:economics; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014481:United States