9. Mandatory Medical Examinations
In Malloy’s day, it was possible to take out life insurance policies on individuals without any formal health screening. That allowed the “Murder Trust” conspirators to insure a chronically ill elderly alcoholic multiple times. Malloy’s severe alcoholism, malnutrition, and poor health would have made him high-risk and unfit for most policies. However, the lack of medical vetting allowed the conspirators to present him as a healthy, insurable candidate.
After his death, an autopsy revealed Malloy’s true condition, prompting industry-wide introspection. The realization that someone in such poor health could be insured so easily, without a single medical check, triggered reforms. Insurers began to mandate medical examinations as a prerequisite for issuing most life insurance policies. Evaluations now typically include physical exams, blood and urine tests, and a review of applicants’ medical histories.
