Digestion, health and nutrition: Dr. Anil Minocha, a gastroenterologist and nutritionist

Tort Reform Doesn’t Lower Health Care Costs

Home page

By A. Minocha MD, author: Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

A few weeks ago the Congressional Budget Office released an analysisthat said tort reform would save the federal government $54 billion over ten years. That sounds like a great argument for tort reform. But if you read the analysis more carefully, you see the picture is not so simple. For example, on page 4 of the analysis you can find this little bombshell:

“CBO’s estimate takes into account the fact that because many states have already implemented some of the changes in the package, a significant fraction of the potential cost savings has already been realized.“

The fact is, more than half of the states already have “reformed” tort. The CBO is saying that federal tort reform would not give us an additional $54 billion in savings. Rather, we’re already enjoying a significant fraction of the $54 billion in savings because tort is already “reformed” in most states.

Wait, you didn’t notice that health care costs are dropping because of state tort reforms? That’s because they aren’t.  What we see in states like Texas, which has enacted sweeping “tort reform” laws, is that while the number of lawsuits go down the overall costs of health care and health insurance keep going up — as much as in states that haven’t changed their tort laws.

It is true that states with “reformed” tort law have seen a big reduction in the number of personal injury lawsuits and jury awards, which does save some money. But the costs of caring for people injured by malpractice, mesothelioma cancer, or other injuries from dangerous products or workplaces, don’t go away. And if the responsible party doesn’t pay, usually the rest of us do — in higher insurance premiums and taxes. And according to a 2006 Harvard study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, only 3 percent of malpractice claims are completely frivolous.

Every state has its own tort laws, and there may be many reasons to reform many of those laws. But reducing health care cost is not one of those reasons.

Barbara O’ Brien (guest author)

The views expressed above are solely of the author. Dr. Minocha does not express any agreement or disagreement with the views of the guest author.

Disclaimer: Everything on this site including the blog and the ads are for your information only. I am not your doctor or pharmacist. Please do your own due diligence and consult your health care professional advisor. Dr. Minocha does not offer any opinion as to the ads on this site. The ads have potential to generate income for the blogger. 

 

Home page

Aesbestosis mesothelioma lung and GI cancer

 Facebook Dr. Anil

By A. Minocha MD, author: Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

Aesbestosis and mesothelioma: A rough estimate suggests that about 7-9 million living persons in the US United States have been  exposed to asbestos at work over the past 50 years. Mesothelioma occurs in about 10% of subjects with aesbestosis. The more the exposure to aesbestosis, higher the risk. Risk of cancer is dramatically increased in subjects if they smoke as well.   

  

Medical problems associated with aesbestosis:

• Type of mesothelioma associated with aesbestosis is primarily pleural mesothelioma, while peritoneal mesothelioma may also occur.
• A estimate suggests that 8 percent of subjects with aesbestosis are likely die of respiratory failure while 50% are likely to die of cancer either primary lung carcinoma or mesothelioma. 
• Interestingly, aesbestosis also increases risk for gastrointestinal cancer.

Incidence of mesothelioma: About 3300 cases of mesothelioma occur in US each year although the incidence has been declining over the last decade. In contrast, the incidence has been increasing in other parts of the world especially in developing nations.

 

Lag peiod for developing mesothelioma: It takes about 30 to 40 years from initial exposure to aesbestosis to the actual development of mesothelioma.

 

What is aesbestos: It is commercial name for a group of magnesium silicate fibrous minerals, primarily of serpentine and amphibole types. It is very resistant e to heat and combustion and as such is attractive for use in cement, tiles, automobile brake linings, and shipbuilding. OSHA guidelines require that workers at risk for occupational excposure use protective clothing, respirators, and showers.

 

MIsc factors associated with mesothelioma: Radiation therapy, viruses,use of intrapleural thorium dioxide r Thorotrast, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates e.g. erionite.  In addition, nonoccupational aesbestosis and consequently increased risk of mesothelioma may occur due to high levels of aesbestoss in soil,.The jury is still out on the magnitude of risk associated with workers exposed to carbon nanotubes. 

Please click for occupations and industrial workers at risk

  

More topics below.... or click to Home page             Facebook Anil Minocha

Toileting posture to take care of business	Fructose sweetener and weight control: Good, bad or ugly?
Autism and gut bacteria: Do antibiotics work?	Chronic abdominal pain in kids
Do antioxidants lower cancer risk	Is folic acid supplementation, good or bad
Do zinc supplements help respiratory infection	Eat fast, get fat: control your weight
Black raspberries and cancer risk	Diet for Crohn’s disease patients
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS	Cancer risk of artificial sweeteners

  Home page Facebook Anil Minocha

Kid getting frequent infections? Probiotics may help	Botox is not just for wrinkles on face: Useful for anal fissures?
Bacteria inside gut are a microuniverse with health and disease implications.	Treatment of internet sex addiction
Causes and treatment of hiccups	Glutamine and immune system
Natural aphrodisiac foods	Diet as risk for Crohn’s disease
Cancer risk of artificial sweeteners	Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
GERD acupuncture treatment	Placebo pain relievers and price

Disclaimer: Everything on this site is for your information only. Do your own due diligence and consult physician. The ads have potential to generate income for the blogger.

Home Minocha page