Last week in Hawaii, legislation that would have sharply curbed the rights of victims of medical malpractice died in committee. The Judiciary Committee Chair Tommy Waters said,
"It's not doctors versus lawyers," he said. "I know the proponents of the bill want to frame it that way. For me, it's about victims' rights."
On Monday, the US Supreme Court allowed Michigan residents to continue with their case against the makers of the drug Rezulin. Although to be clear, this court decision does not change the restrictive drug industry immunity law in Michigan.
In a story that sounds frighteningly similar to a story about a Long Island doctor, some 40,000 patients treated at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada are being notified that unsafe practices like reusing needles may have exposed them to hepatitis strains and HIV. But, at least in this case Nevada has shut down the clinic (New York has allowed Dr. Finkelstein to continue practicing without even a day's suspension of his medical license).
Well, in Nevada he could do this with liitle risk, right? They gutted their malpractice laws not once, but twice a few years ago. So there was really no consequence for cost cutting that resulted in injuries and deaths.
There is something to be said for that old value of accountability and having to be responsible.
Tom
Posted by: Tom Foss | March 09, 2008 at 01:17 PM