I've heard a similar argument from my general practitioner and to an extent I agree. Tort reform needs to be included in the health care bill.

Anyone getting "free" medical care should automatically waive their right to sue, unless the issue was a result of provable gross negligence upon the part of the medical provider (eg: amputating the wrong leg for example).

How is it though, that countries with socialized medicine can provide it to everyone and at a much cheaper cost? I was traveling overseas to New Zealand several years ago and had to take a classmate to the ER to get stitches in her head after she fell down and cracked it open.

The hospital ER in Christchurch was a "rolls royce" of new equipment, doctors, and remarkably empty. She was seen right away and was out in less than 1 hour including x-rays and a full exam.

Her parents got a bill in the mail from the NZ govt. about 3 months later for $50 (New Zealand dollars = about $30 US dollars at the time). They paid $50 anyway and were glad that it was so cheap.

So why is it that our "rolls royce" of health care is so expensive and yet other countries can provide nearly the same for so damn cheap?

Is it all a result of malpractice or the worry of being sued?

Is our system fixable at this point? I don't see costs going down regardless of what health care bill is passed, even one written by the GOP.