government
Massachusetts physicians lobby for liability reform legislation
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 22, 2010
The Massachusetts Medical Society on Jan. 28 testified in support of several bills physicians said would help reduce medical liability lawsuits and costs, as well as defensive medicine practices.
The physician organization told the Legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary that legislation encouraging early disclosure of medical errors and protecting physicians' apology statements would promote fair and speedy resolution of claims out of court. Another measure would help establish a health court specializing in medical liability claims.
The bills mirror proposals likely to be tested under federally funded demonstration projects on alternative liability approaches. The programs, for which the Dept. of Health and Human Services set aside $25 million, are expected to get under way this year.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/22/gvbf0222.htm.
