WILLIAMS ENDORSES MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CAPS AT PHILADELPHIA REGION KICKOFF RALLY

Discusses her plan to introduce a bill that would provide sorely needed relief to doctors and hospitals

HARRISBURG, April 28, 2003 – Addressing a crowd of thousands at the Philadelphia Region Kickoff Rally entitled “The Medical Liability Crisis: A Call to Arms” held at the Valley Forge Convention Center today, State Senator Connie Williams (D-Montgomery/Delaware) told the group of doctors and patients, “I know that what you want most is a cap on non-economic damages. I’m here to tell you today that I will support and vote in favor of these caps in medical malpractice cases and I will introduce a bill in the near future to provide this sorely needed relief to doctors and hospitals.”

Senator Williams went on to discuss the legislation she plans to introduce that would allow for a limitation on the amount of non-economic damages that may be collected in medical malpractice cases only.

“The bill that I plan to introduce would cap non-economic damages against doctors - - because they are the ones who are leaving the state in droves,” Williams said.

“My bill would also cap non-economic damages against hospitals - - because they are the ones that are being driven into bankruptcy.”

Williams said that Senate Bill 50, the caps bill most widely discussed to date, sweeps too broadly and would not just cap medical malpractice cases.

“Senate Bill 50 would also cap non-economic damages in suits against manufactures of defective products that cause unnecessary injury, suits against oil companies and tobacco companies whose actions harm the public health and safety.”

“Senate Bill 50 is a carte blanche solution to the crisis that doesn’t specifically address the physicians and hospitals’ problems,” she said.

Williams said that her approach is the moderate ‘common sense’ approach to the problem.

“I hope that my concept is more acceptable to legislators who still may be on the fence on this issue.”

Williams also said that if the sponsors of Senate Bill 50 are receptive to her approach and are willing to amend their bill, she would be willing to add her name to their bill and her voice to support it.

“This is not a Republican problem or a Democratic problem. It’s a problem that affects all doctors, all patients, and all Pennsylvanians,” Williams said.

“I look forward to working in a bipartisan effort to solve the medical malpractice crisis.”