Statement of Peter E. Eupierre, M.D.
President, Illinois State Medical Society
In Response to Announcement of
Challenge to Medical Litigation Reform Law
November 20, 2006

Chicago – Illinois trial lawyers have struck again, and predictably so. Their desperate attempts to undermine Illinois’ new malpractice reforms are a move to preserve the status quo that ultimately benefits plaintiff attorneys. If this rollback succeeds, it will drive doctors from the state and medical care costs will skyrocket. In the end, patients’ access to medical care will suffer.

The Illinois State Medical Society strongly stands by the constitutionality of these reforms and the state’s urgent need to preserve them. Balance and fairness in our state’s medical litigation system are integral to ensuring patient access to core medical care services throughout Illinois.

Since the law’s enactment last year, ISMS expected personal injury lawyers would target it for a high profile constitutional fight. While we cannot speak to the specifics of the case filed today, we remain confident that caps on non-economic damage awards, as well as the array of accompanying reforms enacted as part of the package, will pass constitutional muster.

ISMS is a professional membership association representing over 14,000 physicians practicing
in all specialties statewide. Dr. Eupierre is an internal medicine specialist practicing in Melrose
Park, Illinois.