Moving beyond the blame game.

Abstract

Americans do not have to put up with a dysfunctional medical malpractice liability system that raises costs, lowers quality, limits access, and erodes trust. The key is to offer something better: a systematic approach that brings runaway malpractice costs under control while at the same time protecting patients and improving the quality of care that they can expect to receive. We are coming to recognize that we really cannot sue our way to better healthcare. If the nation's goal is to stretch our finite healthcare dollars by improving the transparency, accountability, and overall effectiveness of the healthcare system, malpractice liability reform clearly has to be part of the foundation on which we build in the years ahead.