Consumer Law

Meet Congress? Malpracticing Doctor, U.S. Representative Phil Gingrey

By Joe Consumer

The New York Times is reporting today that former obstetrician, Congressman Phil Gingrey, (R-GA), one of the principal sponsors of the Draconian medical malpractice bill (H.R. 5) that is being marked up in the House Judiciary Committee TODAY, was himself sued three times for medical malpractice. (See consumer group analysis of H.R. 5 here). 

According to the article, one case was brought by a pregnant woman whose appendix burst, ?leading to the loss of her fetus and other complications including a stroke.?  Specifically, the lawsuit charged that the doctors had failed to properly diagnose that Mrs. Walker, who was experiencing severe abdominal pains, nausea and other problems, was suffering from acute appendicitis? The case included an accusation by the woman?s husband that Dr. Gingrey, contrary to hospital records, had not checked on his wife for several hours while he was on his shift; Dr. Gingrey insisted that he had.? 

The case resulted in a $500,000 settlement, which was paid by an insurer. The bill he is sponsoring, H.R. 5, would cap non-economic compensation to $250,000 (among other quite cruel provisions for injured patients). 

The Times reports,

In a pretrial deposition, Dr. Gingrey testified that he had been sued at least three other times over malpractice during his long career. In one case, a jury found against him; in another case, there was a settlement; and in another case, the patient dropped the action, he testified.

I mean really, was he hoping no one would notice?

Full post as published by ThePopTort on February 09, 2011 (boomark / email).