ILR Statement Regarding President Obama's Call to Reduce Excessive Medical Liability

By Lisa Rickard
June 16, 2009

We find it encouraging that President Obama is acknowledging the lawsuit epidemic and its impact on America’s health care system, particularly as the Administration examines the critical issue of controlling healthcare costs. 

Numerous studies have proven that our out-of-control lawsuit system is forcing physicians to practice defensive medicine to avoid costly liability lawsuits.  According to the Harvard School of Public Health, as much as 40 percent of medical liability lawsuits are entirely groundless.

The medical liability issue is one of a number of critically important issues facing the country in this historic healthcare debate. We look forward to working with all parties to find remedies – damage caps, health courts or other effective reforms – that can protect doctors, patients and taxpayers from the ailments caused by excessive medical liability litigation.

However, it is important to note that medical liability reform alone is not enough to balance out the threats posed by an employer pay-or-play mandate, a new government-run insurance plan, or an unelected bureaucracy that takes decisions away from employers, employees, insurers, doctors, and patients.