Payouts to victims of medical malpractice declined in 2009 even though health care costs continued to increase. Public Citizen, a family and consumer advocates group, has published a report, "Medical Malpractice Payments Fall Again in 2009," documenting this continuing trend.
Among the report's more disturbing findings was that only one in 57 victims killed by medical malpractice receives any compensation. Public Citizen's report is discussed on the Salud! blog at the Austin American-Statesman.