Connecticut doctors push for tort reform veto

The Ohio and New Hampshire legislatures are considering bills.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. May 24/31, 2004.

Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland is expected to veto tort reform the Legislature passed earlier this month, and that's just fine with physicians.

The measure didn't contain a cap on noneconomic damages, something physicians and insurers argue is key to stabilizing the medical liability insurance market. "The bill is totally inadequate without any caps," said Connecticut State Medical Society Executive Director Tim Norbeck.

At press time, Rowland had not announced whether he would sign the bill, but on several occasions he has said he wouldn't sign legislation without an awards limit.

Either way, Norbeck said, physicians will go back to the state capital next year to lobby for a bill that includes a noneconomic damages cap.

Until then, he said, more physicians will retire early, leave Connecticut or reduce services to keep their insurance premiums affordable. Connecticut is one of 19 states the AMA says is experiencing a medical liability crisis.

But lawyers and some consumer advocates argued that an award limit wouldn't reduce physicians' insurance rates and ultimately would hurt injured patients. Connecticut Patient's Rights, an advocacy group of about 200 families, believes the legislation would be good for the state and is fair to all sides. "It's a remarkable start," said Jean Rexford, the group's executive director.