Today’s Health Care Check-Up: — June 7, 2000

In case you missed it, following is an excerpt from Robert J. Samuelson’s column that appeared in today’s Washington Post:

"Lawyers Unchained"

"…There are genuine conflicts between society’s interest in controlling medical spending and individuals’ desire for choice over treatment. But creating a long list of ‘patients’ rights’ that can be litigated isn’t the best way to handle the conflicts. This would enrich lawyers and, perhaps, aid some patients; the odds are that it would also hobble cost control and raise taxes or insurance premiums for almost everyone."

 

A Patients’ Bill of Rights Shouldn’t Be a Lawyers’ Right to Bill