Majority of Americans Support Creating Special Health Courts Harris Interactive, June 14, 2004 According to a new national survey conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned
by Common Good, nearly 2 out of every 3 Americans (62%) favor having medical malpractice
cases decided by special health courts, which would be presided over by medical
professionals and experts.
"These results confirm that Americans see the need to restore reliability to justice
in health care," said CG Chair Philip K. Howard. "[A]ll the public debate about capping damages
seems to have raised awareness in the public that there is a deeper problem with
the ad hoc nature of modern justice."
The survey found greater support for special health courts than for limiting
medical liability, but limiting medical liability was still supported by a more
than 3 to 1 margin, with 54% in favor and 17% opposed.
Other remarkable findings:
- 63% of Americans said that claims are very often or somewhat often brought against
doctors and hospitals when there has been no malpractice.
- 31% of Americans said that malpractice suits against doctors and their fear of
being sued harm the quality of patient care a lot; another 24% said these factors
harm the quality of patient care of a little.
Click here to download a PDF of our press release. | 
