FactCheck.org President Uses Dubious Statistics on Costs of Malpractice Lawsuits

The President holds out the prospect of major cost savings if Congress will pass a law limiting what injured patients can collect in lawsuits. He wants a cap of $250,000 on any damages for ”pain and suffering” and other non-economic damages. His administration projects savings to the entire economy of between $60 billion and $108 billion per year in health-care costs, including $28 billion or more to federal taxpayers.

But both the General Accounting Office and the Congressional Budget Office criticize the 1996 study the Bush administration uses as their main support. These nonpartisan agencies suggest savings — if any — would be relatively small.

Republicans often fume about trial lawyers. The President snarled twice in the State of the Union Address about ‘frivolous’ lawsuits. How about a little indignation over unsafe products and malpractice? mjh