(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina General Assembly is still wrangling over medical malpractice legislation that would place a cap on damages. Dr. John Mangum, a family physician in Sanford, said many doctors practice defensive medicine because of the fear of  malpractice lawsuits.

"And that's where you order maybe additional tests that might not be absolutely necessary for the best care of the patient but that are done to provide you a little bit of protection in case action is brought against you," said Mangum.

The House and the Senate have both agreed to a $500,000 limit on the amount of pain and suffering to an individual who has suffered any level of medical malpractice.  Mangum said the current system is adding a lot of unnecessary cost for everybody.