President Obama Mentions Malpractice Reform; What’s Next?

Noticeably absent from Obama’s health reform bill were much needed reforms that would limit frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits filed against doctors and hospitals. With trial lawyers standing in the way, caps on non-economic damages and other reforms never made it into the bill.

Last night, President Obama faced the nation with his State of the Union Address. President Obama targeted opponents of his health care legislation, welcoming ways to make the legislation better. Obama even offered a suggestion of his own, saying “I’m willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year: medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits.”

Let’s hope members of Congress take this suggestion seriously, and move forward, even though trial lawyers will be standing in the way.