I had never heard of Colorado’s medical malpractice situation before reading this editorial. Apparently, the state passed tort reform back in 1988. Up until then,

Physicians faced annual liability insurance increases of as much as 73 percent. Doctors had no choice but to avoid performing high-risk procedures. They also began retiring early, and some moved out of state. A University of Colorado survey of local OB-GYNs and family physicians at that time found that 20 percent had stopped delivering babies in the previous five years because of malpractice insurance costs, and 63 percent said further increases would cause them to drop all OB services. We were in crisis.

Weirdly, there is a move underway to get rid of the limits. The editorial summarizes what the consequences would be: 1) higher costs due to not only higher insurance premiums but also due to the practice of defensive medicine, 2) shortages of doctors willing to do anything that is risky even though patients need such doctors.