May 7, 2007

Letters to the Editor
Belleville News-Democrat

To the Editor:

After reading “Bill would expand suit damages for grief and mental anguish” (5-1-07), it seems we Illinoisans have short memories.  Think back to 2004 when neurosurgical trauma care was non-existent for the southern half of our state.  Remember the expectant mother who had to switch OB/GYNs three times because each of her doctors could no longer afford the expense of practicing medicine in Illinois?  How about the doctor who found it cheaper to fly to Oklahoma each week and provide medical care there and return to his home state each weekend?

These are just of few of the stories we heard when the medical litigation crisis was at its peak.  We passed a comprehensive medical liability reform law to fix the crisis in 2005.  Now plaintiff attorneys want to gamble with our health care again through a tricky legislative proposal, HB 1798, that will dilute the reform measures.  These lawyers want to end a decades-old prohibition on payment for grief, sorrow, and mental anguish in wrongful death awards.  This is the attorneys’ way around the cap on non-economic damages that was included in the 2005 reforms.

Under current statute, plaintiffs’ in medical liability cases can receive full compensation for all economic damages incurred and an additional $500,000 from physicians and $1 million from hospitals for non-economic damages.  Trial lawyers don’t think these reasonable limits are enough. They want more, and it will come at the cost of fewer physicians in Illinois and higher health care expenses for patients.  There is still time to prevent this measure from becoming law. Please call your State Senator and urge him or her to vote against HB 1798 and all similar measures that will result in further havoc to our courts. 

Sincerely,

Eldon A. Trame, M.D.
Belleville Internist

Twenty North Michigan Avenue, Suite 700 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Web site: www.isms.org
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