Why do tort reform advocates support medical immunity over public safety

Republicans in congress persist in calling for "medical malpractice reform" which is code for helping doctors and hospitals avoid personal responsibility for their actions. Since the only real incentive for medical providers to provide safe and proper care and treatment to the public is the knowledge that they will be held accountable for their actions in a court of law, limiting lawsuits will be detrimental to patient safety. Perhaps tort reform advocates think that 98,000 death per year from medical errors is acceptable? see www.98000reasons.org The civil justice system provides patients with a constitutional right to seek restitution for injuries caused by medical errors in a court of law. It also encourages patient safety systems that help prevent negligence before it occurs. Hospitals have reformed dangerous practices because of litigation. In some cases, entire medical fields have been transformed. What we need is medical reform that focuses on patient safety. As Dr. Delos Cosgrove, the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic one of the top hospitals in the world, stated in a recent interview in Fortune magazine, "At the end of the day, quality always brings down cost." This is a win-win solution. Let's get better, safer care for patients. Fewer medical errors means fewer lawsuits, healthier patients and lower costs.