Yeah, all the studies show maybe a 5% increase for malpractice and defensive medicine. We don’t really want doctors to stop being extra careful if they are free from lawsuits.
In Canada, btw, malpractice suits are a real minor issue. Since medical costs are covered by the same plan no matter what, there is no need to sue for medical costs, whereas in the US, for instance if you have a baby delivered with serious birth defects and are looking at a lifetime of high medical bills, you’re going to be motivated to sue the doctor, and will probably actually convince yourself it’s his fault, rather than lose your house, your life savings, and your other kids’ college funds. And they don’t allow malpractice suits for mental anguish or punitive awards, so all that leaves is suits for actual costs, such as lost wages or having to buy a handicapped van or such; and since this is relatively small financially speaking and the cases are usually pretty clear cut rather than fishing expeditions, they are usually just settled without court.
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