From the Oswego County Business, The Malpractice Mess: A Consumer’s Opinion (emphasis mine):

I submit, and I hear the howls of disagreement already, that physicians are allowed too much leeway in treatment options. I submit that the establishment of detailed protocols for treatment””very detailed protocols””would eliminate a lot of lawsuits. If, for example, the protocols required a brain scan of any middle aged man suddenly presenting with severe headaches, we should see a corresponding decrease in neurology premiums. If detailed treatment protocol were developed, and followed, malpractice rates should drop accordingly.

It would take work. It would take agreement, and consensus. The courts, the insurance industry, the physicians, and their overseer organizations, would have to agree on the standard of care each group of symptoms merited. Someone within this group would have to be responsible for timely updates, as medical advances occurred. Physicians would need to be more responsible in the matter of continuing education, and staying abreast of new developments in their field. But should such protocols be established, and followed, then weeding out lawsuits without merit would be much easier. Plus, healthcare consumers could be assured a minimum standard of quality care, and stop worrying about their physician having a bad day or off moment, that might result in our death. Remarkably, we human lab rats would really, really like that.

One comment, one question; To my knowledge protocols and standards of care do not seem to prevent lawsuits, and who is going to pay? Also posted at RedStateMoron. O.K. you guys, have at it. Like when Kevin posts. Please…