Seattle Times Editorial- Debunking a Myth: an epidemic of medical malpractice, not of malpractice lawsuits

In an editorial in today’s Seattle Times, Patricia Greenstreet a registered nurse and attorney offers a unique perspective on the reality of medical malpractice and “tort reform.” She advocates that the “best way to save money in the health-care system is to prevent injuries from preventable errors in the first place.” According to Greenstreet, “[i]t is by curing the epidemic of preventable medical errors that we can achieve reduced costs for patients and families, but also for the whole system. Let’s focus on what has been proven to reduce costs and improve lives — eliminating preventable errors — rather than giving up fundamental rights as a bargaining chip.”