For immediate release
January 10, 2007
Statement attributable to:
Cecil Wilson, MD
AMA Board Chair
"The American Medical Association applauds Senators John Ensign and Judd Gregg for keeping a spotlight on the need for federal medical liability reform.
The introduction of medical liability reform legislation in the Senate is a
critical first step toward enacting federal legislation to help patients and
physicians.
"The AMA supports national legislation based on proven reforms, including a quarter-million dollar cap on non-economic damages for physicians, that work to stabilize medical liability insurance premiums and preserve patients' access to physicians. Both Senate bills introduced today are based on reforms working in Texas to stop that state's medical liability crisis. Texas enacted medical liability reforms with limits on non-economic damages — and the new law works. Premiums are down, and physicians have flocked to the state, improving access to care for Texas patients.
"Polls show the American public is fed up with the status quo. A full 75 percent of Americans surveyed say they want their federal lawmakers to support medical liability reforms, and 76 percent support caps on non-economic damages. The AMA urges the Senate to heed the American public and vote for medical liability reforms that preserve patients' access to their doctors.”
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Katherine M. Hatwell
Senior Public Information Officer
AMA Media Relations
(202) 789-7419
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