The Wall Street Journal’s recent article, Why We Don’t Trust Doctors Like We Used To, highlights a troubling reality: patients feel unheard, dismissed, and forced to navigate an increasingly fragmented healthcare system on their own. While public trust in physicians has declined, the real issue isn’t the doctors themselves—it’s the growing corporatization of healthcare.

At Raymond and Raymond Ltd., a Chicagoland-based medical malpractice firm, we see the consequences of this shift every day. Patients come to us after suffering devastating medical errors, often because their concerns were ignored or because doctors, concerned over costs and otherwise too busy, failed to provide the careful attention they deserved. Families tell us they feel like they are fighting against a system designed to wear them down. And many doctors themselves—those who entered medicine to help people—express frustration at being forced to prioritize efficiency over patient care.

The statistics are stark: A Gallup poll found that in 2024, only 53% of Americans rated medical doctors as having high or very high honesty and ethics, a sharp drop from 67% in 2021. More than 30% of Medicare patients see five or more physicians annually, leading to disjointed, impersonal care. And studies have shown that patients with low trust in their doctors are significantly less likely to follow medical advice, leading to worse health outcomes.

This erosion of trust is not accidental—it is a direct result of corporate control over medicine and doctor’s decision making.

When Hospitals Prioritize Profits Over Patients

We work closely with medical experts who tell us the same thing: healthcare is no longer being run by doctors. Instead, decisions about patient care are increasingly made by hospital administrators and executives with MBAs, whose primary focus is financial efficiency rather than medical necessity. In addition these administrators’ cost-cutting measures lead to overworked staff, rushed appointments, and dangerous errors.

Some physicians have told us that if they could do it all over again, they wouldn’t go into medicine—and they certainly wouldn’t encourage their children to pursue a career in healthcare. Many feel they no longer have the autonomy to practice medicine in the way they were trained. They are burdened with administrative paperwork, pressured to meet patient quotas, and forced to navigate insurance policies that often dictate care more than medical expertise does.

For patients, this means that advocating for oneself has never been more critical. In our opinion, it is essential to have an advocate with you at important doctor visits and in the hospital: keeping detailed records, asking direct questions, and seeking second opinions are no longer just good habits—they are necessary safeguards in an increasingly impersonal system.

The Growing Legal Battle for Accountability

Beyond the breakdown in patient trust, another disturbing trend is emerging: hospitals appear to be taking a more aggressive stance against medical malpractice claims. We have observed an increasing reluctance from large hospital corporations in Chicago to settle cases, instead choosing to take more claims to trial. While this may be a strategic financial decision, the impact on injured patients and their families is profound. Some of the big health systems have studied settlements versus verdicts and have found that it is more economical to go to trial and will not settle what a claim is worth. 

Dragging cases through lengthy litigation is a well-documented tactic used by corporations in many industries to discourage claims. And in medical malpractice, where victims are already facing life-altering injuries or the loss of a loved one, this approach can be especially devastating. It is no secret that large institutions have vast legal resources at their disposal, while many patients and families simply do not have the means to endure a prolonged legal battle.

In our opinion, if this trend continues, it will further erode public confidence in healthcare institutions. Patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors deserve a fair and timely resolution—not years of legal maneuvering designed to wear them down.

What Patients and Medical Professionals Should Know

For patients, this means being vigilant. If you or a loved one experiences a medical error, do not assume the hospital will automatically do the right thing. Seek independent medical opinions, document everything, and consider speaking with an attorney as soon as possible.

For doctors and medical professionals, this trend should be a wake-up call. The corporate takeover of medicine is not just affecting patients—it is affecting the very integrity of the profession. Physicians should not have to choose between meeting administrative demands and providing quality care. And they certainly should not be forced to practice in a system that prioritizes financial spreadsheets over human lives. In our opinion, physicians should take care of their patients first and do the right thing instead of succumbing to corporate demands.

Fighting for Accountability

Healthcare in the U.S. is at a crossroads. We still have some of the best medical professionals in the world. If we want to restore trust in medicine, hospitals and healthcare corporations must be held accountable when their failures cause harm.

At Raymond and Raymond Ltd., we remain committed to advocating for patients and their families. If you or a loved one has suffered from a preventable medical error in a failure to diagnose cancer in a timely fashion, or by failing to provide reasonable care, we are here to ensure that you are not just another statistic in a corporate ledger. Because when hospitals prioritize profits over patient safety, someone must stand up and demand justice.