Sometimes it's a snowball effect: one or two patients sue, and suddenly everyone tries to get into the act.

Under the bill, patients could also sue employers that directly participate in care decisions.

Both would allow patients to sue health insurance plans in some circumstances.

In 1998, many patients sued the Government for compensation and they won it in 2001.

After this incident, the patient sued the pharmacy and its employees.

Says law should be changed to allow patients to sue health insurers for denial of coverage.

Under the compromise, patients could sue health insurance plans in state court for injuries caused by the denial of care.

Most patients can sue only for the value of the care denied but cannot win punitive damages.

In the past, when a patient sued for malpractice, the target was usually a doctor.

But, the authors note, the cases "attract wide, critical press coverage," and patients often sue.