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A consumer group has criticized the medical malpractice reform provision in the new "Gang of Six" resolution. Consumer Watchdog, an organization out of California, expressed its concerns over the measure, which they consider to be a purely political rider to what is otherwise the most promising bipartisan compromise to the debt ceiling negotiations that has held Washington captive over the past several weeks.
The provision calls for a proposed malpractice cap within six months: in order to enact "a comprehensive deficit reduction plan that includes discretionary… savings," the resolution requires, "committees to report legislation within six months that would deliver real deficit savings in entitlement programs over 10 years as follows:" … "Judiciary [Committee] would find an unspecified amount through medical malpractice reform." This does not mean legislation -- a malpractice liability cap -- will be written within six months, but that it will be proposed within that time.
Still, it was enough to rankle Consumer Watchdog to criticize the $3.7 trillion deficit-reduction plan. The group recommended for Obama and other legislators to focus on proven cost-cutting legislation, like "improving patient safety and decreasing medical errors." Consumer Watchdog highlights the fact that, despite superficial projections of cost-saving from less "defensive medicine," this very phenomenon would lead to increased negligence, which would offset any decreased costs, and add to the human suffering factor.
If you would like more information about how medical malpractice cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website http://www.oginski-law.com. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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