The perceptive and talented David J Gelb, whose consistent refusal to blog is a loss to internet discourse, sends the following comment from Matthew Yglesias' blog:

16. feckless Says:

November 5th, 2009 at 10:06 am

I have done malpractice defense work, and here in WA state at least, 70-80% of the total amount of plaintiff’s financial claims are the costs of previous or future medical care to correct the claimed injury.

Plaintiffs attorneys work on contingency fees, usually 1/3 of the total award.

If plaintiffs did not have to pay out of pocket for medical care (I know not currently on the table) 70-80% of the amount plaintiffs claim would disappear.

Plaintiffs attorneys can not make a living on 1/3 of the 20-30% of the money that would be left without claims for additional medical treatment.

Universal coverage would end the medical malpractice industry as we know it. Tort reform QED.

This is why there are not many med-mal claims in England etc.

(I wonder is this why single payer was immediately off the table for the democrats, mindful of protecting the trial lawyers?)

In our individualistic society, where nobody is going to take care of you, the optimal strategy is to find someone to blame and get a good lawyer.