FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 21, 2005
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock
312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620
Doctors’ Support Firm for Caps; New ISMS Leaders Elected
New Study Points to Need for Litigation Reform
Springfield – Wearing green Keep Doctors in Illinois wristbands, Illinois physicians converged on the state capital last week for the annual House of Delegates meeting of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). At the two day policy-making session, ISMS physician leaders reaffirmed their strong support for caps on non-economic damage awards as the only long-term proven solution to our state’s medical litigation crisis. They debated and voted on an array of health policy issues ranging from cosmetic surgery taxation and tobacco use, to childhood obesity and direct-to-consumer advertising. New ISMS officers were also elected, including the Society’s 2005-2006 president and chair of the Board of Trustees.
“We’ve seen the positive effect that capping non-economic damage awards has had on other states’ litigation environment,” said new ISMS president, Craig A. Backs, M.D, a Springfield internist. “Now that neighboring Missouri has passed this essential reform, Illinois is virtually surrounded by states with caps. Our state legislators must follow suit and enact meaningful litigation remedies before access to medical care further erodes in Illinois,” stressed Dr. Backs.
While doctors’ support for caps is nothing new, recent information about damage awards lends added credence to their fight. An analysis conducted by ISMS found that medical liability jury awards in Cook County made another stratospheric leap in 2004. The average 2004 award totaled almost $5.4 million, an incredible increase of 21 percent, or $926,000, over the 2003 average. Even more shocking is the dwindling proportion of damage awards allocated to pay actual economic losses – less than 18 percent of the total award.
“Anyone who looks at this trend and fails to recognize our uncontrolled legal system as the driving force behind Illinois’ crisis is ignoring the facts, or just plain doesn’t understand the issue,” said Dr. Backs. “How can we keep doctors in Illinois when nothing is being done to rein in the volatility of our courts? The cost of these spiraling jury awards is driving away good doctors, yet there are no fewer patients in need of care,” he added.
ISMS physician delegates discussed a number of other medical policy issues at last week’s meeting, including a proposed tax on so called “cosmetic procedures.” Bills currently under consideration in the Illinois legislature would tax such procedures to fund stem cell research. ISMS delegates voted to oppose such measures, noting that a tax on medical procedures would make it more difficult for patients to obtain needed care.
New physician leaders of ISMS were also selected. Dr. Backs took office as ISMS president and Richard A. Geline, M.D., Skokie, was re-elected chair of the ISMS Board of Trustees (see following news releases on Drs. Backs and Geline).
“Illinois physicians are committed to providing the best possible medical care to the patients of this state,” said Dr. Geline. “I am proud that ISMS remains a strong advocate for the public health and for keeping doctors in Illinois.”
ISMS is a professional membership association representing over 14,000 physicians practicing in all specialties statewide. The ISMS annual meeting was held April 15-16, 2005 in Springfield, IL.