Burgess Reintroduces Legislation To End Unnecessary Health Care Lawsuits

[The Straight Story]

Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) reintroduced the Medical Justice Act, H.R. 896, which would improve patient access to doctors by putting an end to unnecessary lawsuits brought about by trial lawyers.

"Physicians are forced to trim their budgets in order to cover their insurance costs, often resulting in laying off staff, limiting access to certain aspects of their practice, or closing their practice all together," said Dr. Burgess. "We need national, across-the-board change in the tort reform system, and my bill would do just that. Runaway lawsuits are unnecessary and costly, and reforming medical liability must be a part of the national health care debate."

The Medical Justice Act would regulate civil actions for an injury or death resulting from health care by, among other things, limiting the non-economic damages that an individual could recover. Medical litigation and soaring malpractice insurance premiums contribute significantly to the rising cost of health care. Physicians are forced to practice defensive medicine in fear of being second-guessed by trial lawyers, which results in millions of dollars in unnecessary tests, procedures, and imaging. Furthermore, seasoned medical professionals are retiring early because staying in practice is no longer financially feasible, further contributing to our nation's doctor shortage.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/218160.php

[damntexdem]

1. Right, dear old DOCTOR Burgess (my "representative") only care for the patients.

It's not at all that he wants to let doctors get away with substandard and negligent care.

(Note: sarcasm.)