"We've got to get healthcare costs under
control before they eat up families' entire budgets."
Richard Jackson
ATLANTA (Jan. 17, 2012) - More than one in four
dollars spent on medical care in Georgia is for unnecessary tests
and procedures and cost consumers an estimated $14 billion a year,
according to a new poll of Georgia physicians released Tuesday by
Patients for Fair Compensation.
The poll showed that 82 percent of doctors practice "defensive
medicine" and order unnecessary tests such as biopsies, x-rays,
blood tests, CT scans and other procedures to keep from being
sued.
The $14 billion in defensive medicine costs are passed along to
consumers and result in higher healthcare and insurance costs.
Patients for Fair Compensation is advocating a replacement of
the medical tort system for one that is similar to the workers'
compensation system, said Richard L. Jackson, chairman of Patients
for Fair Compensation.
"We've got to get healthcare costs under control before they eat
up families' entire budgets," Jackson said. "And healthcare is one
factor that is keeping companies from hiring too. Eliminating
defensive medicine would be a significant first step."
Oppenheim Research of Tallahassee, Fla. polled licensed Georgia
physicians and found that 95 percent of doctors would support a
Patients Compensation System over the current medical tort
system.
Oppenheim Research polled 330 licensed Georgia physicians
between Dec. 22, 2011 and Jan. 11, 2012. The poll has an error rate
of plus or minus 5.5 percent.
Patients for Fair Compensation was founded to educate and
propose policy solutions that eliminate the incentives to practice
defensive medicine. By replacing the current medical liability
system with one legally modeled after the workers' compensation
system, the interests of patients, doctors and taxpayers can be
aligned to stop the practice of defensive medicine, optimize
quality healthcare and ensure real access to justice.
To download a PDF summary of the poll by Oppenheim Research click here.
CONTACT: Susan L. Meyers at (404) 518-2271 or
slmeyers@comcast.net