Dems block medical liability bill

[Alamom]

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-05-08T225358Z_01_N08445796_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-HEALTH.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13



Dems block medical liability bill
Mon May 8, 2006 6:54pm ET


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Monday blocked Republicans' latest attempts to limit damages for pain and suffering in medical malpractice lawsuits.

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Republicans have been trying to pass limits on malpractice damages for years, contending that frivolous lawsuits are driving up the cost of care. They argue that the high cost of malpractice insurance is also driving some doctors in high-risk specialties out of medicine.

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Democrats opposed to the legislation argued that rising premiums were due more to insurance industry stock market losses than lawsuits and were more a product of election-year politics than a serious legislative effort.

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These two bills are put here as a result of the insurance industry," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada during the debate. "These measures before the Senate don't represent a serious attempt to improve health care or the civil justice system in our country."

[BrklynLiberal]

1. So there is SOME good news....

[AzDar]

2. Hah! In your FACE Frist!!! (I am immaturing with age,apparently)LOL..

[NI4NI]

3. but don't it feel good! lol!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

4. Official link to Senate votes:

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/a_three_sections_with_teasers/votes.htm

[Horse with no Name]

5. Which just goes to show

that there are MANY other things they could have blocked IF they wanted to.
However, good on them...this time.

[meow2u3]

6. Take that, Cat Killer!!

WTG,Dems!
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Serves you right, Cat Killer! :nopity:

[Czolgosz]

7. k & r -- Texas passed a bill like that and the quality of health care has

plummeted.

[Liberal In Texas]

8. ...And malpractice insurance has not gone down.

I haven't heard that the quality is any worse, but the costs haven't fallen, only gotten higher.

[Festivito]

9. If we see INFLATION again that 250K$ will be very profitable for Companies

Not to mention it being a slap against democracy.

The reason of it drives costs up seems dubious as well.

[SeattleGirl]

10. "Frivolous lawsuits" are not the cause of higher malpractice

insurance costs -- insurance companies are. Having insurance and drug companies traded on the stock market, where profits and dividends are the bottom line, help fuel the rising cost of insurance and drugs.

Good for the Dems for standing up on this one!