The risk of a malpractice lawsuit, even for the most skilled and talented doctor, is a constant burden. In order to minimize the chances of a lawsuit, doctors practice "defensive medicine". Defensive medicine is when doctors order marginally necessary exams in order to run down unlikely diagnoses.
The cost of these unnecessary exams is shared by all of us in the form of rapidly rising insurance premiums. These premiums are a burden on employers and employees alike. Rising healthcare costs are placing a burden on both state and federal budgets, funds that could be diverted to other causes or lower taxes.