You might believe that medical malpractice lawsuits drive up health care costs; however, researchers suggest otherwise.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers and medical professionals have found that U.S. malpractice verdicts of more than $1 million make up $1.4 billion a year, which accounts for less than 1 percent of medical expenses in the country. The cost of health care was $2.6 trillion in just a couple of years ago in 2010.

What is the real issue? Professionals suggest that too many procedures are performed in the name of cautious and defensive medicine. Doctors are trying to ensure that they are not held liable for misdiagnosed issues. This equates to approximately $60 billion a year.

Larger payouts were more likely to occur when a harmed patient was under the age of one. Higher numbers were also seen in brain damage cases.

The researchers have reviewed medical malpractice matters using the National Practitioner Data Bank, which is a collection of all malpractice settlements (or judgments) since the 1980s.

The findings are interesting. It is not the verdict, but the fear of a claim, which drives costs up in the system. Nevertheless, doctors and other medical care providers have the duty to exercise due care in treatment. Negligence can result in serious injury or harm.

If you believe that you have been injured due to the recklessness of a health care provider, you may benefit from speaking with a qualified medical malpractice attorney in your area. A lawyer can help assess your rights.

Source: UPI.com, "U.S. malpractice lawsuits less than 1% of healthcare costs," April 30, 2013