The New Medical Malpractice Crisis

To the Editor: Mello et al. (June 5 issue) 1 do an excellent job of summarizing the current medical malpractice crisis but overlook one of the simplest solutions. Physicians, unlike those in virtually any other business or industry, are unable to pass on costs. If, with every hike in malpractice premiums, we could increase our charges (and actually collect them), then the burden of malpractice premiums would fall on society as a whole. These increased charges would be no different from the increased prices we pay for most products when the industry producing them is hit with new taxes, wage hikes, . . .