SUE! SUE! SUE!
LAWYERS, MEDICINE AND AMERICANS
by
Sanford Pinna, M.D.
Copyright 2009
Americans have been trained by their society to use
the legal system to resolve their personal problems.
Instead of resolving differences between themselves
and others through discussion and compromise, Americans
instantly resort to the use of the Courts to obtain what
they perceive is theirs.
“I’ll sue you! or Him! or Her! or Them!” is the
first thought and expression that comes to the mind of
any American who is frustrated by someone else.
This conditioned response is not limited to
the individual. Companies and governmental agencies
are prone to go to the courts to solve any problem that
might arise between themselves and any person or group
that hinders or obstructs their desires.
This type of antagonistic behavior, which relies
on the American Legal System, to resolve differences
between humans, is unique to the U.S.A.
U.S. Society has been called the most “litigious”
society in the history of mankind.
The cost of resolving such a large percentage of
disputes through the employment of lawyers and courts
is enormous and incalculable.
Litigation or the threat of litigation weakens
American society and the American economy beyond
the comprehension of the American public.
In other countries, disputes are resolved through
discussion and compromise and the economy continues
onward without unnecessary costs and interminable
delays. In the U.S. people may wait for years for courts
to adjudicate their claims; and in the interim, business
and life’s activities suffer.
WHY DO AMERICANS SUE EVERYONE?
The reason for this insane desire to use the courts
to resolve problems can easily be seen if we look at the
history of the U.S. in the last Century.
In no other country in the World do citizens sue
each other with the alacrity and viciousness as do the
Americans.
Prior to the 1960′s of the 20th Century, Americans
did not sue each other either!
American doctors did not buy “Malpractice”
insurance in the first half of the last century. Today,
an American doctor cannot practice unless he buys
malpractice insurance.
In the world today, most doctors do not buy
malpractice insurance, because the lawsuits are rare
and the awards are small. Those doctors in those
countries where lawsuits are present, spend very little
for their insurance, since the awards are always very
reasonable.
In the U.S. malpractice awards are frequently
in the millions of dollars, thereby bankrupting the
physician, even though he carried malpractice insurance.
In addition, attorneys advertise constantly,
in all areas of the media, radio, T.V., billboards,
inciting potential patients to sue.
This constant litigation is only in the
area of medicine. There are thousands of lawsuits
in every other area as well.
HISTORY
People with similar cultural values, who share
a common heritage, do not fight amongst themselves.
The people of small countries, such as the
Nordic Countries, Switzerland, Austria, Romania,
etc., have very few law suits. Their doctors are very
seldom sued.
Disputes are resolved through discussion and
friendly settlement.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE U.S.?
People in the U.S. were fairly homogeneous
prior to 1900. They were mostly descendents of
Northern Europeans.
There was practically no litigation.
Then the Southern Europeans arrived. They
were poor, but they were desperate to have their
children become educated.
Their children DID become educated.
Many studied law and the majority graduated
in the 1940s and 1950′s.
These lawyers were eager to make money.
Since the population was disinterested in suing
each other these lawyers started a new movement:
It was called: CIVIL RIGHTS!
Politicians, who are all lawyers, took the new idea
and ran with it. They promoted the fact that everyone,
under the law, had the right to sue in order to get their
“Civil Rights.”
This idea fascinated that segment of the public
which was in the lower level of the economy. The
lowest socio-economic groups suddenly believed that
they could raise their economic status by suing others.
And, of course, they did so.
There were a few spectacular success, which
resulted in multi-million dollar settlements and these
notorious events spurred on the public.
The lawyers then made the next move.
They offered to finance the cost of the law
suits!
This is not permitted anywhere else in the
world!
The “Fee” that the lawyer gets, if he wins the case,
is called: THE CONTINGENCY FEE.
Essentially, the lawyer tells the client:
“I will put up all the money needed to
fund the case, you, my client, need not give
me a penny, but, if I win, you give me 40 percent
of the winnings and pay back all my costs.”
Of course, every person with little money,
saw this technique as a “Lottery Ticket.”
“All I have to do is Sue, and I could be a
millionaire!”
The number of law suits in the U.S. skyrocketed
in the 1970′S and since then.
Doctors had to pay higher and higher premiums.
They began practicing “defensive medicine” ordering
every test they could think of in order to prevent any
possible error.
The cost of medicine, also, skyrocketed.
But, doctors were not alone. Everyone was sued.
Lawyers sued lawyers. People sued businesses, schools,
any organization or person who possibly irritated them.
It became, and still is, a national mania.
But, such a mania is costly and adds to the
cost of doing business and producing goods.
The U.S. was made left competitive in the
world market.
Health care took a wallop in terms of cost,
and many were left without it.
This mentality is being fueled more intensely
by the Obama Administration.
In order to insure their permanence in Government
they are fostering class warfare. The Obama Administration
realizes that the American Minorities are their source of
votes. As a consequence, they are stimulating the minorities
to engage in litigation of all sorts, especially in the political
arena.
This may gain the support of the minorities.
But the economic strength of the U.S. is
being gradually weakened.
When the mind is preoccupied with conflicting
ideas, the body becomes paralyzed.
