Statement From Stuart L. Weinstein, MD, Chairman, Doctors for Medical Liability Reform on Senator Baucus' Health Care Reform Proposal

/PRNewswire/ -- In response to the release of the health care reform plan by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, DMLR Chairman Stuart L. Weinstein, M.D. issued the following statement:

"The plan released by Senator Baucus is inadequate in addressing the serious problems caused by medical lawsuit abuse. President Obama, Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, health care policy experts, opinion leaders, and patients all across the country agree that medical liability reform is needed to lower costs and reduce the practice of defensive medicine. Unfortunately, Senator Baucus chose to ignore their important views.

"Baucus' plan does nothing more than ask for a 'Sense of the Senate' stating that state demonstration projects should be considered. This is unacceptable.

"While voluntary state demonstration projects may be a step in the right direction, the Senate's mere expression of support is not enough -- they must be formalized and codified into law. Even so, state demonstration projects alone will not do enough to lower health care costs and reduce the practice of defensive medicine. We need comprehensive federal medical liability reforms like those that have proven to be successful in states like California and Texas.

"On behalf of Doctors for Medical Liability Reform and Protect Patients Now, I urge the Senate to include effective medical liability reforms in any health care bill it passes. Now is the chance for our nation's leaders from both parties in Congress to step forward to stop medical lawsuit abuse once and for all."

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