For the past several years PAMED has worked relentlessly to educate lawmakers of the need for tort reform, and the coming year may provide an opportunity for those efforts to pay off.
Even before this month’s swearing-in ceremony was complete, the new Corbett administration had made it clear that tort reforms would be a priority early in the session.
PAMED’s short-term medical liability goals include:
- Limits on plaintiffs’ attorney fees
- An apology law prohibiting apologies by physicians to injured patients from being used in court
- Requiring the expert report supporting a Certificate of Merit to be filed concurrently with the filing of the complaint in medical liability actions
- Increased liability protections for physicians who provide emergency room services and uncompensated care
PAMED is part of a large tort reform coalition working to enact meaningful tort reform. The Coalition is made up of many of the state’s business, health care and insurance interests. As a member of the coalition, the Pennsylvania Business Council is planning to host a summit on Feb. 1, 2011, in Harrisburg to kick-off the coalition’s tort reform campaign. PAMED leaders plan to participate in the summit.