6 of 11

1

RCP: On the other side of this issue, how concerned are you that doctors are performing unnecessary procedures because they’re afraid of getting sued?

Senator Wyden: Defensive medicine certainly takes a toll on the system and increases costs. We have a strong malpractice reform plank in the Healthy Americans Act. I also think it’s a question of fairness. If you’re going to adopt tough insurance reforms, then you ought to have tough malpractice reforms. In fact, the Democrats are usually for the insurance reforms and the Republicans are for the malpractice reforms, and in the Healthy Americans Act we say both of these powerful interests are going to have to accept some changes.

Full Transcript of the RCP-Wyden Interview