Essay On Medical Malpractice

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Do Medical Malpractice Costs Affect the Delivery of Healthcare? Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional or provider deviates from standard of care and fails to provide appropriate treatment or take an appropriate action that causes harm, injury or death to a patient. Medical malpractice law makes it possible for patients to recover compensation for any harm due to the negligence of healthcare provider and to prevent providers from practicing negligence (Kessler, 2011). Medical malpractice insurance, also called medical liability coverage is required in most states, hospitals and physician groups for a physician to practice medicine. The cost of medical liability coverage varies from state to state, medical specialty and has the potential to affect the delivery of …show more content…

Through a series of laws, Louisiana has established a Patient’s Compensation Fund (PCF) that automatically covers all state health care providers. The fund is designed to compensate patients who suffered loss, damages and expense because of professional malpractice by a health care provider who is a member of the fund. Private providers may join the Fund as long as they meet few requirements. The revenue is generated through surcharges paid by private healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, chiropractors, optometrists, dentist, oral surgeons and nurses. Damage caps in medical malpractice cases are based on joining the PCF. Recovery against a health care provider is limited to $100,000 per patient plus interest per patient per incident. Anything in access of this cap is placed in the patient care fund. A total recovery in medical malpractice cases is limited to $500,000 plus the cost of any future medical expenses. The PCF pays for any future medical expenses directly (Dekaris, Mims,

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