Studies have shown that even in cases of clear negligence, patients are less lik
ID: 1120284 • Letter: S
Question
Studies have shown that even in cases of clear negligence, patients are less likely to sue doctors who they like, that is, doctors who treat them kindly and are apologetic when things go wrong.
(a) First, imagine a world where doctors do not have liability insurance. In order to face correct incentives for precaution, should “nice” doctors be subject to higher punitive damages when they get sued? Explain.
(b) Next, imagine a world where doctors do have liability insurance, and pay their own premiums, which go up each time they are successfully sued
Explanation / Answer
A) yes doctor whether they are nice or not definately are the subject of higher punitive damages because there are few profession in which any kind of negligence results very great loss one of them is doctor they treat lives and any kind of their negligence is sever so for this they should get punitive damage rest whether thy dont have liability insurance and they are nice are not matter.
B) in this case too they should get punitive damages as this is charged by government for the compensation of loss they occured to the society and the seriousness of their profession which dont allow them any negligence and carelessness (and whether doctor took liability insurance or not is completely his personal choice so there is no relation between compensation and premium of insurance).