Medical malpractice lawsuits were originally intended to increase the safety of medicine by redressing past harms and deterring future negligence. However, these disputes cause harm to doctors that persists long after they are resolved. According to a study by David Studdert and Michelle Mello, 2% of doctors account for 40% of all malpractice claims paid over a 13-year period. Most disputes end in silent distortion. The system can thus paradoxically worsen the safety of medicine instead of improving it. Patients should check doctors' backgrounds on sites like DocInfo.org or state licensure. When choosing a doctor, it is useful to ask about their experience, communication and patient care.