The Wall Street Journal

August 2, 2004

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Now, That's the Ticket
August 2, 2004; Page A11

Torts, as Christina Forbes argues (letter, July 301), serve a useful purpose, but they do drive up medical costs. To solve this problem, let people opt out of the tort system: Give cheaper health insurance to those who agree to limits on any malpractice awards. Doctors who treat such patients can pay less for malpractice insurance and pass on the savings. People who want the right to unlimited jury awards can continue to play the lottery, but on their own nickel.

Ilya Shlyakhter
Cambridge, Mass.

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