Malpractice reform won't do much to reduce health spending

Among the many ideas that have been tossed around for decades on how to bring down health care spending, none may be as well known as malpractice reform. Many people believe that it's the key to removing waste from the health care system and making the practice of medicine better. But a growing body of evidence shows that belief is most likely mistaken. The rationale for malpractice reform as cost control is somewhat complex. It assumes the existence of "defensive medicine," meaning that doctors order additional tests, or perform extra procedures or recommend more visits, all because they think those actions will protect them from being sued.