Tort reform would undermine health care

I disagree with much of what Duane Schmidt wrote in his Sept. 18 column “Tort reform cure for our ailing system.”

Trial lawyers are a great incentive to keep health care practitioners careful, honest and competent. Remember, half of all doctors and dentists graduated in the bottom half of their class. What is your recourse if you get injured by the incompetence of one who graduated with the lowest grades of all?

Schmidt says that tort reform would prohibit “outrageous” awards. First, how much is a lifetime of pain and suffering and lost income worth? Second, judges already review awards and they throw out or reduce amounts they consider excessive.

Schmidt also favors allowing health insurers to operate across state lines to increase competition. But this would create what is called a “rush to the bottom.” Insurers would all set up headquarters in the least- regulated state.

That is what happened in Delaware and South Dakota when those states allowed no limit to interest rates on credit cards. All the credit card companies moved there, so now everyone is stuck with high interest rates.

Randy Russo

Cedar Rapids