Fiction

The number of lawsuits is skyrocketing.

Fact

As stated above, the number of lawsuits (of nearly every kind and in nearly every jurisdiction) is plummeting. Mandatory arbitration and laws hostile to plaintiffs account for most of this drop.

Fiction

The costs of lawsuits are driving companies and doctors out of business.

Fact

Malpractice costs are less than 2% of the total cost of health care, and on their list of worries small business owners rate as number 65 concerns over the cost of lawsuits, according to a recent survey.

Fiction

Lawsuits are driving up your insurance rates.

Fact

Insurance company profits are driving up your insurance rates. Insurers make record profits, even as the number of suits plummets, yet your rates do not go down.

Fiction

The costs of lawsuits are a "tax" on all Americans.

Fact

The "studies" that support this statement are funded by big oil, drug, tobacco, and insurance companies, the very entities that benefit from a reduction in lawsuits. There is no factual or scientific basis for this claim, or even a reasonable explanation of how making a wrongdoer pay for his wrongs qualifies as a "tax" on anyone.

Conclusion

People complaining about lawsuits do so because they have a financial or political interest in the issue. Insurance companies do not make money by paying claims. Large corporations want the harm they cause to go uncompensated. Politicians find it easier to blame the victim than to address the underlying problems. The only people harmed by the reduction in lawsuits are those victimized by intentional or negligent acts who are being denied any recourse.

SELECTING A MULTIVITAMIN

Multivitamins are big business, with the amount sold increasing by $1 billion between 2003 and 2008. The number of choices available is also increasing - for children, seniors, and women. But how can you choose the right one for you?

The good news is that almost any multivitamin you pick will contain the vitamins and minerals advertised and will be free of harmful levels of contaminants. According to a recent test done by Consumer Reports, all but one vitamin of the 21 vitamins that were tested met the claims made on the label. Store brands (which are often far less expensive) did as well in the test as name brands.

In choosing a vitamin, experts have some commonsense recommendations. Avoid pills with megadoses of a particular vitamin's 100% of your recommended daily allowance is enough, and huge doses can do more harm than good.

To ensure that you have chosen the vitamin mix best for you, take a vitamin intended for your age and gender. You should ignore claims about the benefits of ingredients other than vitamins - such claims are usually not backed up by any scientific evidence.

Do you really need to take a multivitamin? Despite their popularity, there is little evidence that multivitamins actually improve the health of most people. Studies have failed to show that taking a vitamin pill daily reduces the chance that you will get ill or contract a disease, or that it increases your chances of living longer. However, some people should take multivitamins, including pregnant women, people on limited diets, or those who have a condition (such as diabetes) that can interfere with the absorption of nutrients.

CASE BY CASE

"Pill Mill" Liable for Patient's Death

"Pill mills" are medical clinics that prescribe powerful drugs for medical problems such as pain management, often without any legitimate medical need. A recent verdict in a case involving a pill mill demonstrates that juries are willing to hold such clinics accountable for the harm they cause.

CONCLUSION