Tort reform is job one

Sun., Aug. 23, 2009

The Spokesman-Review

Several letters to the editor were written advocating heath care reform to cut costs. One letter stated that it cost twice as much to treat patients in this country. Not one letter mentioned tort reform as a major reason for high medical costs.

Because of frivolous lawsuits doctors have to protect themselves by purchasing expensive malpractice insurance and ordering mostly unneeded tests that add to treatment costs. Tort reform is seldom mentioned by the pols because the powerful lawyers lobby contributes large sums to a pol’s election campaign. We all know the primary goal of every pol is to get re-elected; you need lots of money for that.

We will never solve America’s health care problems until tort reform is enacted.

Antone Ornellas

Post Falls

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