Malpractice suits fall in Pennsylvania, easing insurance crisis

Citing new statistics that show a 41% decline in medical malpractice lawsuits statewide since early in the decade, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said that efforts to address Pennsylvania's malpractice insurance crisis had curbed the rise in premiums for doctors and given patients better access to care. He said a report released by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts demonstrated that new laws and judicial rule changes since 2002 had also improved the healthcare climate in the state.