FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 24, 2004
Contact: Kelley Elwood, cell: 312-608-3620
office: 312-580-6497
DOCTORS PLEDGE TO CONTINUE FIGHT
FOR MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM
Lawmakers Leave Springfield Without Addressing Medical Litigation and Access to Care Crisis;
Medical Society Commends Area Lawmakers
Springfield - Disappointed that no action was taken during this session to resolve Illinois’ medical liability crisis, the Illinois State Medical Society pledges to continue its fight to pass meaningful reform.
“We are disappointed that the legislature failed to pass meaningful litigation reform this spring,” said Kenneth J. Printen, M.D., president of the Illinois State Medical Society. “We will continue to persevere in our efforts to improve Illinois’ litigation system and are hopeful that state lawmakers will address the crisis when they reconvene later this year.”
Over 80 substantive bills addressing medical liability were introduced this session. The Illinois State Medical Society supported and promoted Senate Amendment 5 to HB 4847, introduced by Sen. William Haine (D-Alton) and Sen. James Clayborne (D-Belleville). The bill included changes to Illinois’ litigation system to reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits filed against physicians and protected physicians’ personal assets. It also enhanced medical discipline and increased regulation
of malpractice insurance companies.
In late May, the Democratic controlled Illinois House of Representatives voted on an amendment introduced by Rep. Dave Winters (R-Shirland) and Rep. Steve Davis (D-Alton) to cap noneconomic damages in medical liability cases at $500,000. This usually controversial proposal, Amendment 4 to SB 2241, received overwhelming bi-partisan support yet was not called for a final vote. The Illinois State Medical Society believes that the medical liability crisis is becoming so severe that a majority of state lawmakers now support caps on non-economic damages as an effective solution.
“We saw a lot of debate on the issue and despite broad bi-partisan support for action, the insistence from the Democratic leaders for an agreed bill acceptable to the trial lawyers doomed any possibility for meaningful reform this session,” said Dr. Printen.
“Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville), House Republican Leader Tom Cross (ROswego) and their respective leadership teams worked extraordinarily hard promoting medical liability reform throughout the legislative session,” added Dr. Printen. Downstate Democrats Sens. Haine and Clayborne, and Reps. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville), Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City), Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville) and Steve Davis (D-Alton) also supported initiatives proposed by Illinois physicians.
“We recognize that there was a lot of political pressure to ignore this issue and we want to commend these lawmakers for standing up for their constituents as well as Illinois physicians and their patients,” said Printen.
HB 4847 is on concurrence in the Illinois House of Representatives and SB 2241 is on second reading in the House.
www.isms.org
Dr. Printen is a board certified general surgeon practicing in Evanston, IL.
ISMS is a professional membership association, representing 14,000 physicians practicing in all
specialties statewide.