Letter to Editor:

We agree with Dr. David A. McCarthy (Belleville News-Democrat, 8/19/2009) that “the best, most compassionate way to reduce health care costs is to make Americans healthier.”  Here!  Here!

And while the Great American Health Care Debate goes on, we also believe much could be done to bring about bipartisan support from Democrats, Republicans and most importantly, the American people, by including meaningful medical malpractice litigation reform.  One message that has come loud and clear from the town hall-type gatherings throughout the land this month is there is strong public sentiment to reduce high malpractice insurance costs that are eventually passed on to consumers.

Illinois’ reform law, which limits awards for non-economic damages to $500,000 for doctors and $1 million for hospitals, among other important reforms, now rests with the Illinois Supreme Court, which is reviewing its constitutionality.  A federal mandate requiring such reforms, already adopted in more than 30 other states, could go a long way to resolving the stalemate in the Great American Health Care Debate that Dr. McCarthy references. 

Dr. James L. Milam
President, Illinois State Medical Society
Vernon Hills, IL