Government
City votes down law requiring doctors to disclose disciplinary actions
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 7, 2005
Carbondale, Ill., which made news last year by passing an ordinance capping noneconomic damages awarded in medical liability lawsuits, narrowly voted against a new measure that would have required physicians to notify patients if they have been disciplined by the state in the last five years. The city council voted 4-3 against the measure, after the city's attorney informed it of probable conflicts with state law.
Last year, the city used its "home rule" authority to create its own tort reform package, which included requiring medical liability lawsuits to be filed in the county where the alleged malpractice took place.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/03/07/gvbf0307.htm.