Missouri Injury Lawyers Blog

The New York Times reported on a recent report filed by CoxHealth medical facility in Springfield, Missouri where they admitted to over-radiating 76 cancer patients during treatment. The majority of the patients were being treated for brain cancer, and received about a 50% overdose of radiation therapy. A hospital employee improperly calibrated the machine used to administer the radiation.

A major study of the Malpractice Insurance Industry finds that there is no basis to further limit liability of unsafe health care providers. The study undertaken by Americans for Insurance Reform find's that premiums and claims against doctors have dropped significantly in recent years, while the malpractice insurance industry enjoys extremely high profits.

Unfortunately, Missouri has already under gone brutal cuts in the rights of its citizens to hold unsafe health care providers responsible for their acts. The study found that states, like Missouri that had severe restrictions on malpractice claims have the similar medical error rate as states who have not adopted the harsh practices. The study further found that on an inflation adjusted basis malpractice insurance premiums are the lowest they have been in thirty years. The full study, True Risk: Medical Liability, Malpractice Insurance and Health Care can be read here.