AMA Cheers Introduction of Senate Medical Liability Reform Legislation
For immediate release
May 3, 2006
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/16226.html
Statement attributable to:
Cecil Wilson, MD
AMA Board Member
“The introduction of medical liability reform legislation in the Senate is a critical step toward enacting federal legislation to stop the nation’s medical liability crisis. The American Medical Association greatly appreciates the leadership of Senator John Ensign in introducing medical liability reform legislation that, if passed, will help stop America’s out of control medical liability crisis.
“The AMA supports national legislation based on proven reforms, including a quarter-million dollar cap on non-economic damages for physicians, that work to stabilize medical liability insurance premiums and preserve patients’ access to physicians. The Senate bill introduced today, S. 22, is based on reforms working in Texas to stop that state’s medical liability crisis. Texas enacted medical liability reforms with limits on non-economic damages — and the new law works. Premiums are down, and physicians have flocked to the state, improving access to care for Texas patients.
“Polls show the American public is fed up with the status quo. A full 75 percent of Americans surveyed say they want their federal lawmakers to support medical liability reforms, and 76 percent support caps on non-economic damages. The AMA urges the Senate to heed the American public and vote for comprehensive medical liability reforms that preserve patients’ access to their doctors.”
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