In the U.S., more than half the states place caps on the amount of damages a plaintiff recovers from a medical malpractice lawsuit. In some states, the caps cover the combined total of all damages, while other states simply limit the amount a patient recovers for general damages. The State of New York does not restrict how much money a patient recovers in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Other states do not place caps on damages related to these types of claims. The purpose of damages caps in this type of lawsuit is to drive down the liability of medical professionals and lower their malpractice insurance rates. Where in place, these compensation restrictions have met with criticism, especially in the case of patients who suffer injury from medical negligence as children—and face an entire lifetime of related losses, including pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.