A disturbing rise in the number of medical negligence claims is playing havoc with hospital departments, leading to rising costs, unnecessary tests and doctors avoiding specialising in high-risk fields. Some doctors are even said to be emigrating or retiring early because of growing medical insurance costs.South Africa has too few doctors already - we simply cannot afford to lose more because of negligence lawsuits.Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, who disclosed earlier this year that his department had spent R1.2-billion on contesting and settling medical malpractice cases in four years, has convened a panel of experts to investigate the worrying trend so that something can be done about it.Unfortunately, the sensible approach does not seem to have filtered down to all levels of the government.Gauteng's MEC for health, Qedani Mahlangu, mounted an extraordinary attack this week on patients suing for medical negligence, saying they were ''playing on the emotions'' of the courts to secure large payouts.Mahlangu, who disclosed that her department had paid out R161-million in medical negligence claims between 2012 and this year, noted that lawyers were ''touting for business within hospital premises''.She blamed her department's loss of the great majority of cases on ''acute internal squabbles within the office of the state attorney''.No matter how aggrieved she might feel about the lawyers, Mahlangu's comments reflect poorly on her office.She would be far better advised to ensure that the hospitals under her sway - though often poorly resourced - were at least professionally managed and that sound medical protocols are applied.Properly run and adequately equipped hospitals, staffed by efficient, motivated doctors and nurses, would be the best antidote to the epidemic of malpractice lawsuits...