Thanks. Do you know if coverage remained constant? That is, the only variable was non-economic damages available to litigants?
The reason I ask is that I am an attorney. I do not practice personal injury or medical malpractice law. But I am interested in tort reform and its consequences on my profession. I voted for tort reform in Texas in 2004 (I think, or was it 2003).
At that time I believed it was more important to vote as a citizen, and not as a member of an interst group. Now I’m not so sure that people with that mindset are being manipulated by clever propaganda.
In any event, since entering practice I have seen many things, especially behavior I would consider sinister by insurance companies, and reckless behavior of some doctors/medical establishments. And many friends of mine, and untold colleagues, lost their jobs because of tort reform. I hear anecdotal stories of prospective clients turned away because it is not economical to represent them. And their lives are ruined—some injuries are horrific. If they live (many prospective clients are the survivors).
So to sum it up, I take a great deal of interst in tort reform. Both in its consequences, its costs, its truths, and its falsehoods.
I believe insurance companies, doctors, bureaucrats and lawyers have all been responsible for sinister and reckless behavior that have caused death and disability. Crap happens. If it was done maliciously and it can be proved. I would support some additional payment to the claimants.
I would rather that a private sector rating organization be used to determine service levels of insurance companies, death rates and failure rates for doctors, infection rates for hospitals. All of this done so that consumers can make informed choices when making health care decisions.
How do you feel about single payer legal services for Americans? Shouldn’t this be a right like health care? (I have to ask every lawyer this. It’s my mission this year.)