Gov. Bev Perdue today vetoed the medical malpractice reform bill, SB33, but signed off on a related lawsuit reform bill, HB542. She also signed the workerk compensation reform bill, HB709, which was widely hailed as a bipartisan effort.
She released this statement:
“As we seek to grow jobs in North Carolina, it is essential that we remain a business-friendly state where companies will want to invest and expand. With that goal in mind, I am pleased to sign these two bills. House Bills 542 and 709 exemplify how good, balanced laws can be created when advocates for business and citizens roll up their sleeves and work together.
“House Bill 542 will ensure that when an accident happens, the laws in North Carolina both protect those injured and also prevent undue or disproportionate penalties from being imposed upon our companies. This law helps strike a fair and delicate balance.
“I also signed H.B. 709, which reforms our workers compensation system. The workers compensation system was established to ensure that those who are injured while working are treated fairly. The bill I signed extends protections to injured people and also provides guidelines and protections for employers.”
Lastly, Gov. Perdue vetoed SB 33, “Medical Liability Reforms,” and made the following statement:
“I am strongly committed to passing meaningful medical malpractice reform. Doctors, hospitals and nursing homes in North Carolina are all being burdened by medical malpractice insurance rates that are too high.
“By working together, we enacted meaningful changes to our tort law (H.B. 542) and our worker’s compensation system (H.B. 709) this year. We can achieve real medical malpractice reform as well. I commend the legislature for addressing this important issue but, in its current form, the bill is unbalanced. I urge legislators to modify the bill when the General Assembly returns in July to protect those who are catastrophically injured. Once the bill is revised to adequately protect those that are catastrophically injured, I will proudly sign it into law. I pledge to continue working with the General Assembly to achieve a comprehensive, bipartisan consensus.”
But here's how Senate President pro tem Phil Berger sees it:
"In countless frivolous lawsuits, trial lawyers win big and drive up health care costs for everyone. Yet Gov. Perdue chose to cater to special interests instead of reducing medical costs and improving access to care for all North Carolinians.
"The legislature passed a strong bipartisan bill allowing patients to recover full medical expenses and lost wages, and up to $500,000 for additional ‘noneconomic damages’ including pain and suffering. No matter how she spins it, a veto is a veto, and this one deals a severe blow to the state’s medical community and every citizen struggling to cope with the skyrocketing cost of health care."
Comments
Some facts
June 25, 2011 - 8:26am — ironduffJust checking some facts:
In the 10 years between 1999 and 2009, patients won 51 verdicts from North Carolina juries, with a median award of about $375,000. Doctors won 75 percent of jury trials. Between 2003 and 2007, the latest period available, 1,355 claims settled, with an average payout of $315,650.
This is not exactly "making a mint" from lawsuits. The "reform" offered by the GOP is nothing more than kissing the butts of the already rolling-in-the-money insurance industry, which will then reward the legislators with campaign $$ and other perks.
Check out facts before you
June 25, 2011 - 7:20am — chipper45Check out facts before you embarrass yourself further. Insurance reform is needed, not malpractice reform. Look at the number of lawsuits filed and the number of verdicts in favor of each side and average size of the verdict. Why are you so afraid to put facts before 12 disinterested people who render a verdict? I don't hear any complaints about jury trials in criminal cases.
She did it!
June 25, 2011 - 12:35am — InspectorPitt"Cupcake" became the trial lawyers best dessert.
Vetoing this bill has indebted her to the strongest lobby in the state and will garner her plenty of re-election cash — the cash that would have been taken away had this bill been signed into law.
Trial lawyers make a mint in tort cases. Just look @ John Edwards as a prime example. So, those who believe the victims are getting the money, I bet they're not getting what they should because the lawyers are getting far too much.
I'm late to this discussion: but hopefully some will read it
June 25, 2011 - 12:15am — gangwan888i suggest flok watch natgeo's latest{as of this writing)e pisode of "locked up abroad".it's about a an english man & a filipino woman.
I can't tell whether you're
June 24, 2011 - 8:21pm — hdog007I can't tell whether you're really that ignorant, or you are providing mis-information to support your lawyer/insurance job. Malpractice reform is far past due. It is absolutely ridiculous that ER doctors in this State pay almost half of their salary for malpractice insurance (even if they have a perfect record). It is completely unaceptable that lawyers and insurance companies are the ones getting rich and driving up the cost of affordable care for ALL of us.
Personally, I would have been a big supporter of Obamacare if it addressed the ridiculous and frivolous costs of healthcare. Unfortunately, his administration would rather pad the pockets of their special interests.
As an unaffiliated voter, I am surprised to see that the Left isn't in favor of fixing healthcare costs, since that is what burdens the low to middle earner in this country. I guess it goes to show the left is owned by the lawyers and insurance companies, just like the right is owned by banks and oil.
Malpractice
June 24, 2011 - 7:35pm — chipper45There is no malpractice crisis in NC. There are no frivolous lawsuits because our rules provide that another physician must review the treatment records and certify there was malpractice. This is nothing more than an insurance industry power grab led by GOP leadership. Pure politics unsupported by facts. Incredibly shallow statesmanship. NC citizens deserve better.
GOP leadership would like to kill all the lawyers. In walks Dick the Butcher....
It figures that she would
June 24, 2011 - 5:17pm — TarheelDragonIt figures that she would cover for her protected voting bloc... teachers and now lawyers!
and I hope
June 24, 2011 - 4:55pm — Qtheducksome of the current legislators enjoy their time in Raleigh also. 2012!
Veto Stamp
June 24, 2011 - 4:45pm — RaymondSimsBev darling,
You enjoy your veto stamp while your still in office. The taxpaying people of NC wish you well in your next endevers which will NOT include governorship. (Only if the republicans can over ride the vetoed "voter ID" mistake YOU made)