Med Mal Reform Blocked In Senate
Wednesday, July 9th, 2003 Legislation & Regulation LiabilitySenate supporters of medical malpractice liability reform failed Wednesday to get enough votes to move a reform bill to a vote. A motion to invoke cloture and thus end debate on the Patients First Act of 2003—S. 11—drew only 49 votes, thus removing the measure from consideration, at least for the time being. The measure, which closely followed medical malpractice reform legislation already approved by the House, would have capped noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 and limited punitive damages to the greater of $250,000 or twice economic damages. The bill also would have limited the proportion of a malpractice award that a plaintiff‘s attorney could take as a fee, with the proportion determined by the size of the award. The reform effort enjoyed the support of employer and insurance groups, including the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc.
