Because of the increasing costs of medical malpractice insurance and its affect on patient’s access to certain healthcare services, many experts have claimed that our nation is experiencing a wrongful death crisis. This isn’t the first, but the third time the United States went through a medical malpractice crisis. Previously, this type of crisis has prompted alterations in medical malpractice laws. Most of these laws are aimed at reducing medical malpractice insurance premiums, however, some of these changes are aimed at revising or replacing the tort system altogether.
The tort product is the civil legislation through which a victim of wrongful death (and/or their own families) can file a lawsuit from the negligent medical professional to find compensation for injuries. In these cases an auto accident lawyer philadelphia could be used. Damages awarded via a medical malpractice case may include both monetary and non-financial injuries. Economic damages consist of things like out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, lack of wages, and so on. Non-financial damages can consist of pain, suffering, lack of consortium, disability, and so on.
Because of the fact that settlements in medical malpractice cases often reach upwards of six and seven digit figures, wrongful death insurance companies have begun to significantly increase the premiums medical professionals must pay for liability insurance coverage. The cause of greater insurance costs might be more complex than this, and all connect with the insurance coverage industry itself independent of the legal element of wrongful death.
Regardless of the exact cause, the increase in insurance premiums is responsible for a medical malpractice crisis. Specifically in high-risk medical fields like obstetrics and emergency care, the medical malpractice crisis has forced some doctors to stop offering certain medical services because they are either not able to afford insurance for these practices or do not wish to reveal themselves to a potential liability risk.
The recent medical malpractice crisis has prompted a nationwide discussion of wrongful death reform both in the insurance industry and the tort system. Based on which side from the fence you sit, tort reform can be seen as good, bad, or perhaps a little of both. Some reason that the tort system needs to be replaced with a no-fault approach to compensation. Others argue that the tort system functions well and it is necessary to protect the rights of seriously injured and aggrieved medical malpractice victims. Still others desire to see major changes in both the legislation and also the insurance industry, for example limitations on settlement awards, routine transaction options, tighter rules about the insurance industry, and much more.
The present medical malpractice crisis is shrouded in difficult controversy. What’s vital that you the sufferers of wrongful death is when the medical malpractice crisis is affecting their legal rights and options.
If you’d like to explore the present medical malpractice crisis in order to find out more about your rights and options, please contact us to talk with a professional and experienced wrongful death attorney who can assist you to.
