Recently, Republican senators expressed their intention to seek federal medical malpractice reforms when the new administration takes office. The reforms would be part of changes implemented to the Affordable Care Act. The lawmakers have stated that the country is facing a medical malpractice crisis, with doctors unable to obtain insurance and practice medicine. However, this is simply not the case. In the last 15 years, the price of obtaining malpractice insurance has gone down, and the measures suggested, such as placing caps on recovery similar to those in place in California, will only serve to make it more difficult for those injured to receive just compensation for their injuries. In California, caps on non-economic damages have made it nearly impossible for certain groups to receive justice for their injuries - such as children and the elderly.
Rather than looking to reduce the amount of compensation available to the injured, law makers should work with doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals to reduce the incidence of medical mistakes and errors, which now rank as the third most common cause of death.
As Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers committed to helping those injured by medical negligence, we support efforts to improve patient safety and are dedicated to fighting to ensure those injured recover the compensation they deserve.
For more information, or if you have been injured by a medical mistake, please contact the dedicated Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Bostwick Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.
