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.