Healthcare Revisited

I was in the hospital recently discussing our plans for IUI with my wife's OB/GYN provider. When discussing the cost, I mentioned that it would have been cheaper if we had socialized medecine like so many other countries have. He scoffed at the idea. I was curious why, and he told me that the only way socialized medecine would work here is if they stopped people from sueing doctors. I had never thought from that perspective. He then told me that it costs him $75K a year, just for insurance. That might explain why medical costs are so expensive, and also why the insurance companies would be big losers if we ever did go to socialized medecine. It also reminded me that we are indeed a litigious society, probably too much for our own good. I would think that for even the very worst medical accidents or true malpractices, $1 million would be the very most anyone should receive, and I mean that's if they cut off limbs accidentally, or because of their negligence, kill a family member. In other words, unless we just have a corps of incompetent physicians, most people probably won't be suing for anything. It comes down to tort reform, common sense, and getting back to the decency and values we grew up with, or are at least aware of.