The prevalence of medical malpractice suits has long been the bane of physicians and providers of health care. Fear of lawsuits discourages the sharing of information about mistakes which could help prevent them in the future, and prompts doctors to practice "defensive" medicine in which they subject patients to every possible test—regardless of expense or need—to shield themselves from lawsuits. 

Now, the Obama administration has awarded $23.2 million in grants for projects intended to improve patient safety and curb medical malpractice suits, officials announced Friday.

The demonstration projects will test innovations in obstetrics, compensation plans that avoid costly and lengthy lawsuits and limits in liabilities for physicians who can prove they followed state-endorsed, evidence-based guidelines for care.

(READ the full story in the Washington Post)