Medical malpractice insurance. Part I: A consideration of some of the factors.

The "crisis" of medical malpractice insurance is a product of a number of factors, both social and economic. Physicians, patients, insurance companies, and lawyers have all made individual and collective contributions. Social forces, changing physicians' roles and reorientation of patient attitudes have made institution of litigation against doctors much more culturally acceptable. Contingency fees, the need for compensation, and aggressive legal attitudes have increased the number of lawsuits and the size of awards, inflation, recession, and other economic developments have caused the insurance industry to be concerned about their financial welfare. The responses of various groups to these factors are presented, and their effect upon the cost and availability of medical malpractice insurance are considered.