Anesthesiologists and obgyns can pay well into six figures a year in medical malpractice premiums.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Although the direct, measurable cost of malpractice premiums is small, the effect on physician behaviour is enormous.

ECONOMIST: Alternative medicine

Defensive medicine includes all the extra tests and procedures performed to deter lawsuits and is separate and apart from spending on malpractice premiums, which add another 1 percent to health spending.

FORBES: 5 Take-Aways from Steven Brill's Time Tome on Health Costs