Billings Gazette: New ideas needed on malpractice Editorial
Billings Gazette, July 22, 2005 An editorial in the Montana paper endorses the Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act, proposed by Senators Enzi and Baucus, as an effective way of streamlining the current malpractice system. The piece discusses how the rising costs of malpractice insurance and fear of litigation has critically affected the quality of healthcare in Montana and the region.
From the editorial:
"There isn't a single cure for medical malpractice problems. Rather, policymakers must look at a range of improvements. The first goal must be improving the quality of care to reduce mistakes and malpractice claims. At the same time, better systems of resolving malpractice cases quickly and without litigation must be encouraged."
Special health courts could be the cure we need:
"The commonsense legislation Baucus and Enzi have proposed is an alternative to tort reform, which Baucus said doesn't yet have the votes to pass the Senate.
Quality improvement and settling without suing address underlying problems of medical malpractice. Instead of attempting to limit damages after the lawsuit, lawmakers and the health care industry should use those better remedies. The proposal by Enzi and Baucus could be a good place to start. "
Read the entire editorial.
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