Final answer:
Defensive health care largely responds to legal risks and involves practices such as ordering unnecessary tests to protect against lawsuits, contributing to increased healthcare costs. The U.S. system provides high-quality care and innovation but struggles with controlling costs and ensuring universal access. Balancing quality, cost, and access remains an ongoing challenge.
Step-by-step explanation:
'Defensive' health care, which is seen as one of the factors contributing to increased costs in the healthcare system, is primarily in response to legal risks. Medical professionals often engage in defensive medicine, which involves ordering extra tests and procedures, or avoiding high-risk patients or procedures, to protect themselves from potential lawsuits. This approach to healthcare delivery can lead to unnecessary healthcare spending and inefficient use of resources. While the aim is to avoid malpractice suits and ensure all bases are covered for the patient's safety, it can exacerbate the issue of soaring healthcare costs without necessarily improving patient outcomes.
Compared to the United States, other countries may have lower costs and more equal access, yet they face challenges in providing rapid and advanced medical care. The overarching challenge is to balance quality care with cost and access. The U.S. healthcare system showcases high quality care with innovative treatments, but struggles with high costs and equitable access to basic medical services. It is essential for the system to find a way to maintain this delicate balance.