Tort Reform Needed
Jon Wampler’s Sept. 14 viewpoint, “Five Steps to Reform,” makes two key points: tort reform is needed to help straighten out our healthcare system, and its absence in Congress’ proposed healthcare plan is proof of trial lawyers’ influence on Congress.
We don’t want the threat of lawsuits and the cost of malpractice insurance to scare away our best and brightest young minds from medical school.
One step we could take as a nation would be to implement the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act nationally. The successful California model, signed into law by then Gov. Jerry Brown 34 years ago, places a $250,000 cap on recoverable noneconomic damages. It was enacted to counter runaway jury verdicts that were driving medical professionals out of California.
Let’s not drive young people from becoming physicians because we won’t reform our tort system.
Maryann Marino
Regional director,
California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Corona del Mar
