The survey, conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and Stanford University with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, collected responses from 1,502 adults through phone interviews given between Oct. 29, 2009 and Nov. 8, 2009.
According to the report, 32 percent of respondents opposed limits on lawsuits, compared with the 54 percent who supported limits. Another 59 percent of respondents believed that physicians order more tests than necessary out of fear of being sued.
Supporters of limits quoted in the report said that medical liability is a huge driver of healthcare costs and the public support shows that Americans recognize its contribution to costs, according to the report.
Opponents of caps said in the report that focus should be on reducing medical errors as opposed to tort reform, as those affected by medical malpractice would support the need for a strong judicial system.
States polled in the survey were not provided, but the report noted that some states, such as California, have responded to medical liability lawsuit abuse by capping non-economic damages.
Read the AMNews report about the public’s support of tort reform.
