What’s Wrong With This Picture?

There is something wrong with this picture – right?

Putting a price tag on the medical liability system is difficult, but one 2010 study estimated it costs the United States more than $55 billion annually, or 2.4 percent of the country’s healthcare spending.

In addition, experts say tens of thousands of Americans die each year due to medical errors.

Earlier studies have shown that when healthcare providers follow a checklist, they reduce those deaths dramatically and could save money by preventing complications that require further treatment.

This is a quote from a Reuters article on how to reduce the number of medical malpractice claims. Now who’s to blame for medical malpractice claims and the cost to the health care system. Let’s blame the lawyers because they recover $55 billion for their clients for the negligent injury and death of patients. On the other hand, let’s do no blame the health care community, which despite the enormous financial costs, the pain and suffering and loss of life medical errors cause, just does not seem to get it – something as simple as a checklist saves lives and prevents injury. Here are the choices – limit medical malpractice claims or require medical providers to follow simple checklists….