Illinois Senate Democrats cancel malpractice vote, igniting furor

[Judi Lynn]

Illinois Senate Democrats cancel malpractice vote, igniting furor
Associated Press
03/17/2005

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Senate Democrats backed out of plans to consider Republican medical malpractice legislation Thursday, triggering a furor that led to the Senate shutting down early.

The bill at issue would cap non-economic damages in lawsuits, protect doctors' personal assets, restrict frivolous lawsuits and place tighter controls on insurance rates.

The Democratic majority had said the Senate Judiciary committee would consider the measure Tuesday. Then they postponed it to Thursday. Then they said there would be no action and the whole issue was being transferred to a new committee.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, said the lawyer-dominated Judiciary Committee was not making enough progress on a response to rising malpractice insurance rates that are driving some doctors out of business. Sending the matter to a new committee will jumpstart the process, he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisstatenews/story/BB573BCAF5C7A48986256FC70077E41D?OpenDocument

[xray s]

1. Look at that list

The legislation addresses everything BUT medical malpractice itself. Yes, believe it or not, sometimes doctors do commit acts of malpractice that seriously injure or kill people.

Why not try to cure the disease too, instead of just the symptoms? Will the AMA make it easier to revoke the licenses of doctors that are notorious repeat offenders?

Didn't think so.