# Are medical malpractice cases really driving out doctors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 3, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169 "2008-07-03T09:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scrambledeggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@scrambledeggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scrambledeggs)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/21 "2008-07-03T19:31:31Z")
And why are neurology and OB so high-risk? I thought the days of mothers dying at birth are over? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/22 "2008-07-03T19:43:22Z")
It must be enough that I keep seeing a billboard for [these folks](http://www.realitymedicine.com/resources/rm_2007.pdf) (warning, large .pdf) on my way to work every day that says in giant neon green letters on a black background “KEEP DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS”. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/23 "2008-07-03T19:56:47Z")
[QUOTE=scrambledeggs] And why are neurology and OB so high-risk? I thought the days of mothers dying at birth are over? [/QUOTE] OB and Neurosurgery. Less than ideal outcomes. Less than perfect athlete-scholar babies, and folks who ain’t all they used to be despite brain surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/24 "2008-07-03T20:11:23Z")
[QUOTE=scrambledeggs] Does the case stand a chance of reaching a jury? If not why did the plaintiff’s counsel accept it? [/QUOTE] Plaintiffs and their attorneys don’t usually want to try cases. Its expensive and uncertain. This one’s new to us so no evaluation’s been made. There’s a long way to go yet. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/25 "2008-07-03T20:24:39Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] The solution: make trial lawyers responsible for delivering health care. see how your lawyer handles an amputation or brain operation! [/QUOTE] We could always make losing plaintiffs pay the defendant’s costs out of pocket like in England. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/26 "2008-07-03T20:27:10Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] We could always make losing plaintiffs pay the defendant’s costs out of pocket like in England. [/QUOTE] Now there’s a heck of an idea! Got any idea how we can get a group of legislators, most of whom are lawyers themselves, to pass it? ---
**Author:** ![scrambledeggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@scrambledeggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scrambledeggs)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/27 "2008-07-03T21:22:40Z")
Loser pays means that nobody will be able to sue–too much risk. There are doctors and businesses who deserve to be run out of town . . . ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169/28 "2008-07-03T21:52:25Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] OB and Neurosurgery. Less than ideal outcomes. Less than perfect athlete-scholar babies, and folks who ain’t all they used to be despite brain surgery. [/QUOTE] Same deal for the orthopedists – you’re no longer fit to work on high steel… or it just hurts to sit up straight or use stairs for the rest of your life? Well, if somebody ELSE did go through this and made it out OK, then they must have done something wrong with you… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-medical-malpractice-cases-really-driving-out-doctors/455169.md?page=1)