Peter D. Assail, a medical malpractice attorney wrote the following letter to the New York Times in reaction to a recent editorial by Bob Herbert regarding medical malpactice reform: "Impartial and unimpassioned appellate judges routinely review and reduce excessive jury awards to fair and reasonable amounts. Many indefensible malpractice actions are bitterly fought to the end by doctors and their insurance company-paid lawyers, thereby unnecessarily driving up the costs of litigation.
Dismissive attitudes toward patients and the secretiveness of doctors remain the primary instigating causes of medical malpractice lawsuits. The medical profession may feel in extremis, but true healing always begins from within." More reaction regarding Bob Herbert's piece may be found here.