I agree the majority of doctors are great and it is wrong that all have to suffer. However, there are some doctors that are so incompentent that they have no business being doctors. The whole mess of malpractice insurance, frivolous lawsuits and all that goes with it has made a huge mess of the medical field.
Now let me be clear that I am totally against frivolous lawsuits and ambulance chasers out to make money. The people should be lined up against a wall and shot. Whenever a system is in place for a noble reason, there are always going to be the vultures that take advantage of it.
Now for those who want to call everyone sue happy and cry babies that hire lawyers to deal with bad doctors, it's obvious that you have never suffered or know someone close to you that has suffered under negligent care. There will always be those who take advantage of every opportunity to make money, but sometimes it's just the right course of action.
My wife lost her father many years ago to a doctor that was negligent during a routine operation. They sued the doctor and hospital but money was not the issue. They were offerred several settlements on numerous occassions, but the doctor would not admit guilt in any of the settlements which is what they were after to get his licensed revoked. After going through the court system, the doctor was found guilty and it became part of the record. There was a monetary award that was a small fraction of the offerred settlements and the majority went into a trust for her little sister as she was still very young. In the end, the doctor lost his license as he deserved.
Now if you think my wife is a crybaby for what she did, then I can attest that I have heard her cry often over the years. Especially on the day that would have been her dads birthday or when she holds his 2 year old granddaughter that he will never know. Given all the alternatives, I'm sure she would choose to have her dad back if she could.
And AudiSteve, "Crap Happens"? Well, my friend, I hope this never happens to your wife or children.