Republicans say they will bring bill to limit malpractice suits back again

[Judi Lynn]

Republicans say they will bring bill to limit malpractice suits back again


By JESSE J. HOLLAND
The Associated Press
2/25/04 3:29 AM


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Republicans say they will keep making Democrats vote on a bill curbing medical malpractice lawsuits, despite losing another attempt to get the legislation out of the Senate and to the White House.

"We'll come back to it," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., after losing a vote to force Democrats to consider a bill curbing medical malpractice damages against obstetricians and gynecologists. "The problem is not going to go away."

President Bush and the Republicans have argued that medical malpractice legislation could help reduce unnecessary lawsuits that make it harder for doctors to practice. In a brief statement, Bush focused particularly on what he said is the impact on obstetricians and gynecologists.

"I am disappointed that a minority in the Senate has again decided to play politics and block our nation's ability to accomplish medical liability reform," Bush said. "Today's vote is a blow to America's families, because pregnant women are losing access to their obstetricians and gynecologists due to frivolous and abusive lawsuits."
(snip/...)

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/business/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0011_BC_MedicalMalpractice&&news&newsflash-financial

[jamesinca]

1. That is a bunch of BS

The states that have the highest malpractice cases are ones that cap the award amount, it did not slow down the number of cases. 5% of the Dr's commit 45% of all the malpractice out there. If the cost of the insurance was graded on that, it would be very affordable to do business and it would run the bad ones out of business. A frivolous lawsuit will be throw out anyway by either the lawyer, or the judge/jury. There will always be those that get through, but I do not see this same energy being directed toward capital punishment cases reform. If he truly wants to reform medical liability, allow the drug companies to be sued, allow the HMO's to be sued when they deny services, take away physicians licenses when the are successfully sued more than 10 times. It is a given that you will make a mistake at least once in your career. When you start getting to 10 mistakes, running you out of business should be considered.

What the Bush reform does is put money in the insurance companies pocket because they will not have to pay out for lawsuits. It takes away a legal avenue for those that are wronged.

[annagull]

2. No proven benefit to patients

Or to Doctors, why do they support this one? Think about it whilst I do..

[izzie]

3. Why not just take out the bum doctors and stop all this?

It seems to be the same old doctors who keep getting away with this. Just put their names our and no one would go to them.If they want to stay being docs let them pay the high rates.

[jamesinca]

4. That is the responsible solution

Or one part of the responsible solution. Hold those accountable for their actions.

[mediaman007]

5. Republicans are always for "Market Forces" until

the money starts flowing the other way. Then they are quick with using government to make fixes. I'm sure that all of us are hypocrites in some way. Its just that they wear their hypocrisy on their sleeves.

[saigon68]

6. Market Forces

Invisible hand of the market.

My ass

Until their profits lag.

WalMart= Red-China's retail outlet.

How many people here remember when it was a felony to even travel there?

[F.Gordon]

7. Subsidies are the real issue

Capping malpractice awards only helps the Insurance Companies. Doctors will still pay the same premiums. This legislation won't change access by patients to doctors.

Additional Doctors are not being added because subsidy restrictions imposed by Insurance Companies make it economically impossible to add to the staff of existing offices.

There is also the issue of Tort legislation in many states with regards to Auto Accidents. It's cheaper for the Insurance Companies to fight the medical costs in court. Problem is, many Doctors will not even SEE a patient involved in an Auto Accident in Tort States because they can't afford to wait 12 or more months to get paid.

What is really "a blow to America's families" is that millions of Americans either don't have or can't afford health insurance.

[Fovea]

8. How exactly does this jibe with being the party of personal

responsibility?

what phenomenal hypocrisy!

[teryang]

9. Deny Americans access to the courts

...malpractice "reform" is the foot in the door to reserve the courts for the corporations. Individuals have no right to access to the courts. This is the real position of the corporate regime.

[mbperrin]

10. HELL< why not go all the way

and let doctors sue patients who die? They DID disregard their instructions to get better, right?

[Ganja Ninja]

11. Why not ammend the constitution?

I welcome them bringing it back in an election year. Bring it on!

[fishnfla]

12. Politicians, Doctors, Lawyers, Insurance Execs. OH MY

Too many fingers in this pie, guess who gets screwed over? You and i friends.

They had this argument up in Tallahassee last year, there was so much lying going on among the special interests groups, that this year they are passing a law that folks have to be sworn in to speak before the legislature

[bagnana]

13. I love that idea! sworn testimony on penalty of perjury.

Insurance companies make most of their money on the stock market using their cash float. The only reason they lose money is because of stock market and investment fluctuations. The rest is absolute B.S. Are they going to lower premiums and take away the caps when their stock market profits get back to pre 2000 levels? I doubt that very much. Greedy, selfish, inhumane a-holes.

[fishnfla]

14. actually a lying enemy can work to your benefit

especially if you tell the truth and catch them at it.having witnessed this firsthand in issues before the state legislature, underfunded and out gunned, the lies our adveraries told burned them. we ruled the day

memeo to: GWB regarding those WMD's......