Personal Injury Law

Illinois Medical Malpractice Reform Watch?Many Legislators Stand Against ?Reform? Claims

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

Many national lawmakers are standing firm against the misguided, hypocritical efforts to take away the rights of medical malpractice victims. We?ve continually documented the misleading claims made by proponents of tort ?reform,? and the direct constitutional mandates standing in opposition to it.

However, those seeking to take away judicial decisions from juries remain committed to the measure, pushing forward legislation in Congress that seeks to enshrine anti-victim principles. If passed, the legislation would have debilitating effects on all Illinois medical malpractice lawsuits.

Fortunately, there are many members of Congress who are stepping up to confront the distortions made about medical malpractice claims and concerns, according to Boston.com. Even the President, who suggested he was open to some compromise on the issue during his State of the Union address, is clearly opposed to some of the most arbitrary ?reform? measures. For example, he opposes malpractice damage award caps. The caps would create arbitrary award limits, regardless of jury decisions and without any thought to the specifics of each case.

Those who work with victims of medical malpractice are well aware that awards by juries in civil cases represent one of the only ways for negligent medical professionals to be held accountable for their conduct.

US Senator Patty Murray explained, ?I?m not going to throw people under the bus and say if something happens to you, you are not going to have the support you need.?

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on February 06, 2011 (boomark / email).