A physician responds to an editorial in PA:

But defending cases costs an average of $50,000 – even if it never gets to court. These costs, initially paid by the insurance companies, are passed on in premium increases to doctors and hospitals. And the cost of staggering jury awards, also paid by insurance companies, is passed on in premium increases to ALL doctors, even if negligence is found in only a few. Doctors can’t pass on these costs because of fixed payments by Medicare and health insurers.

I saw my own premium rise 600 percent over several years. Eventually, the vise became too tight, and I closed my practice on Dec. 31, 2004. I’m not alone.