By using this website you allow us to place cookies on your computer. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details.
Publication Date: May 1986
Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)
Author(s): Peter J. Ferrara
Research Area: Law and ethics
Keywords: Legal issues
Type: Report
Abstract:
Many states already have begun adopting reforms to address the medical malpractice crisis. The states should reject fingerpointing at insurance companies and doctors; so far they have. Instead, reforms need to be addressed to the real problem--the departure from a fault-based standard of liability, leading to runaway, unjustified awards for pain and suffering. The medical malpractice crisis is an example of what can happen when judges ignore one of the basic principles of law--only those at fault are liable for damages.