Listened 1.5 hrs. to MICHIGAN's John Conveyer, Judiciary committee ranking member; OHIO's John Delahart; and TEXAS' Sheri Jackson Lee on medical malpractice. (All are democrates in House of Reps.)

This was concerning the $250,000 CAP of winning these lawsuits. It was stated the millionaires could hire the best attorneys and get MORE than the $250,000 cap.

They had 30+ parents or patients speak. 50% of the parents had lost their child due to a MD's negligence. Each told their moving stories, and there was not a dry eye in the group including the Reps!

This is the 2nd or 3rd forum the 4 democrates Reps. have had w/families & patients.

They hope the next one can include REPUBLICANS who are on this committee.
=======================================

In fact, they want to bring this before the entire legislature and hear DIRECTLY from their families/patients!

One parent said the $250,000 would just cover 1 year of taking care of their 19 yr. old daughter.

My thoughts on this: I'm sure many of you parents with lyme children can relate to this and what has happened to your kids with their NOT being diagnosed & treated in a prompt manner.

Kare, I think this is another talking point to the letter you are going to write to your senator/REPresentative!

To those of you in OHIO, TEXAS, & MICHIGAN, perhaps you could go to your state house of rep's web site and find an email address so you/others from this board can email/write them about your situation.

I've never seen such compassion as I witnessed this am from the 3 house reps who spoke!

What is your opinion about this? Just passing along my ideas as I see them occuring on cable during my sleepless nights.

Tobi, from what I heard ... this has nothing to do w/Bush.

Including President Bush.

Trout

This is what I found quickly on search feature of Thomas bill web site.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/bdquery

There were 50 different bills mentioning $250,000 and medical malpractice.

Yes, some docs do pay extremely high malpractice premiums, but many do not. By the governments own calculations, medical malpractice led to 150,000 deaths last year !

4,000 people died in a terrorist attack and they've changed the entire process of jurisprudence, and built up huge government agencies to combat it.

If they diagnose and are not allowed to treat, they loose, and we sue.

If they dont diagnose (or diagnose a terminal illness) the patient is expected to die, very few patient families will follow up with autopsy to prove misdiagnosis.

If they diagnose and treat, the insurance company will go after their licence.

The problem of "medical liability caps" lies in the fact that insurance companies must get out of the way of the doctor doing his job. They must stop reporting doctors to the boards. In fact, it should be outlawed that insurance companies could report to the boards, but the patients who feel treatment is not acceptable should be the only ones to report to the boards.

Lastly, no matter what passes in our house and senates... Under the present administration, nothing will change in practice even if the law changes

Examples to back that allegation:

HIPPA rules (to protect patients..yeah right) only protect the insurance company

Treating physician rule- failed in court several times

President Bush statement on CDC surveillance- Has never stood up in court

Im sure there are others specifically for patients (and lyme). But thats a couple to start with.