What People are Saying About the Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act June 6, 2007 Sen. Enzi on the introduction of the Fair and Reliable Medical Justice Act: "What we're trying to do is give some first aid to medical liability. We're trying to provide a fair and fast and just system for people to get compensated, and it will also free up doctors so they can be in the operating room instead of the courtroom." – The Billings Gazette
"Congress is too polarized people either want to revolutionize the system or do nothing," said [Rep.] Cooper, who also teaches health policy at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. "We need to find a middle ground people can agree on and get some reform." - The Tennessean
"Backers of 'health courts' -- specialized courts that supporters say speed payouts to injured patients without having to pay large amounts of money to trial lawyers -- lauded the legislation." – Congressional Quarterly
“Unlike proposals to cap noneconomic damages awards in medical-malpractice cases -- which long languished in Congress during the period of Republican control and have since been pushed off the agenda altogether by the new Democratic majorities -- proposals for health courts have generally enjoyed support from both sides of the partisan aisle.” – Insurance News Net
“The current system works poorly for everyone. Patients with valid claims wait years for settlement. Doctors who did nothing wrong litigate for years with the risk of a ruinous verdict hanging over their heads. This unfairness leads to nearly universal distrust of justice, undermining candor and good judgment.” – Medical News Today
“The problems of medical malpractice ‘affect all patients, all physicians, all families and all businesses,’ said Doug Laube, immediate past president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, one of several physician groups endorsing the bill. The proposal would ‘rovide states with critical financial support to explore and test alternatives.’ – UPI
“Testing of alternatives to the current tort system that promote faster and fairer compensation to injured patients and that also promote quality improvement is a necessary part of the movement to improve the performance of our healthcare system.” –John Rother, Policy Director of AARP, press release
“Health courts would present alternatives to the litigation-based system of dealing with medical malpractice claims. The idea, which has been pushed by New York-based legal reform group Common Good, enjoys support from several medical professional associations.” – Business Insurance
“Patients would still have the opportunity to litigate instead of pursuing alternatives the states would propose, but the key is to create alternatives that would be fair and predictable to both healthcare providers and patients, Enzi said.” – Modern Healthcare
We have thoroughly studied the concept of medical courts and are ready to support any state that is prepared to do a demonstration of this attractive alternative to the current tort system. If nothing else, the outrageous cost of the tort system makes change a critical component of any overall health system reform proposal. – Dr. William G. Plested III, President of the American Medical Association
It's an idea sure to appeal to many in Florida, where medical malpractice reform has been a big issue...If Congress passes the health courts bill -- now before the Senate health, education, labor and pensions committee -- Florida could add the specialized litigation venues to its list of malpractice reform measures. - Orlando Business Journal
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