"The best thing I have ever done"

Anecdotal evidence about malpractice driving physician movement from the Yale alumni mag (via pointoflaw.com):

If people tell you tort reform isn't important, don't believe them. The
contrast between practicing in a highly litigious area versus a low one is
incredible. While I knew it was taking a toll on my life and affecting my
practice style, I had no idea how much until I got out here. Using my clinical
judgment without the threat of second-guessing and Monday-morning quarterbacking
not only improves care, but also drastically cuts down on CYA testing. It's
great to be a doctor rather than a fearful technician wondering from where the
next hit is coming. ...

There are 2 other similar stories

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Medical Courts

I'm a little late in getting to this, but an interesting debate is taking place at Legal Affairs magazine:

George W. Bush is pushing an aggressive agenda for reforming medical malpractice law, with a focus on capping the amount of damages patients can be awarded if their doctors harm them. But some advocates suggest a completely different reform: "health courts." These jury-less courts would deal only with medical claims and be administered by trained healthcare professionals. This, supporters argue, might improve healthcare by providing quicker resolution to malpractice suits and limiting frivolous claims.

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Malpractice case payouts jump in Pennsylvania

The beat goes on in Pennsylvania...

Insurance companies and other underwriters in Pennsylvania reported a steep jump last year in payments for malpractice claims against physicians, according to a federal agency.

In 2004, insurers reported paying out $448 million, a 13.5 percent jump from $394.5 million reported in 2003, according to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration. The 2004 figure broke the previous record, which had been set in 2001.

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