Doctors I know haven’t forgotten about “first do no harm” but they are getting so tired of seeing their insurance premiums climb.
One of my friends who is a doctor is paying many, many thousands of dollars every year, his went up to $16,000 this last year in spite of never being sued. He did quit prescribing any meds earlier this year, orders lots of lab tests and is quitting private practice at the end of December.
I agree that the health care and insurance systems in the US are a mess. One thing we need desperately is tort reform. That would save a lot of money, and doctors would not be spooked into doing more tests and treatments than necessary out of the fear of being sued. Doctors are not the problem. Government interference in health care, insurance that isn’t really insurance, ambulance chasing lawyers, and patients who want more than they need are the problems.