The number and size of payouts for medical malpractice continued their long-term declines in 2011, according to a report from Public Citizen: Medical Malpractice Payments Sunk To A Record Low in 2011.
In a reality that should put to rest false claims of the tort reform crowd 80% of the payouts were made for medical malpractice that caused the following:
- death
- major or significant permanent injury
- quadriplegia
- brain damage
- other permanent injury requiring life-long care
I can't imagine how it can be argued that someone whose negligence, lack of care and/or recklessness killed someone, inflicted major permanent injury, rendered them a quadriplegic, caused them brain damage or some other permanent injury that requires life-long care should have their liability and responsbilitiy for their own conduct limited by damages caps.
