Gallup recently polled a number of Americans regarding how they perceived the honesty and ethical standards of various professions. The question was framed “Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields – very high, high, average, low or very low?”

Unsurprisingly, nurses were at the top again with 84% of those polled rating their honesty and ethical standards as “very high” or “High”. They have topped the list every year but one since this poll was introduced in 1999. Next on the list were pharmacists at 67% and medical doctors at 65%. Of note, chiropractors and psychiatrists checked in at 38%.

At the other end of the spectrum, 8% of those polled believed the honesty and ethical standards of members of Congress were Very High or High. That is worse than car salespeople (9%), insurance salespeople (9%), Business executives (17%) and, yes, lawyers (18%).

From the perspective of a medical malpractice attorney, this makes sense. Jurors tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the health care provider on trial for committing malpractice, and do the opposite to the plaintiff victim (and his or her attorney). But why is that?

One possible reason is motive. At the time that the alleged malpractice occurred, unless the doctor or nurse was drunk or on drugs, or otherwise should not be practicing medicine, he or she was trying to help the patient. It may be that in hindsight the treatment offered or diagnosis made was wrong, but those mistakes are “honest” because not only was there no malicious intent, one can infer there was benevolent intent.

Contrast that with the plaintiff, a person with his or her hand out asking for money from the doctor, sitting side by side with not only a lawyer, but a personal injury lawyer. The perception can easily be that their motives are not benevolent but fueled by anger, greed, or some combination of the two.

So much of a trial is a battle of which side is more credible. Reading polls such as this one from Gallup confirm my belief that these battles are tilted at the start.

You can read the full Gallup Poll here:

[Americans Rate Healthcare Providers High on Honesty, Ethics](http://www.gallup.com/poll/200057/americans-rate-healthcare-providers-high-honesty-ethics.aspx)