In previous blog posts, we have discussed tort reform efforts, medical malpractice damages caps, and how they strip the power of decision-making away from juries and bestow that power onto lobbyists and lawmakers who have financial interests in limiting payouts for injured victims and families. Despite the fact that most Americans oppose caps on medical malpractice damages, a newly released proposal of the White House budget under President Trump’s administration still calls for capping the amount of noneconomic damages victims and their loved ones can recover in civil cases involving medical negligence.
The proposed budget for the 2018 fiscal year cites that tort reforms, including those that limit class actions and damages in cases involving nursing home abuse, would save billions of dollars over the next 10 years. The budget itself also goes beyond capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $250,000 by proposing other protections for medical professionals, including:
- Setting the statute of limitations at three years in medical malpractice claims.
- Allowing medical defendants found liable for damages over $50,000 to make payments rather than pay victims immediately
- Permit courts to adjust attorneys’ fees
- Provide safe harbor protections for medical professionals who adhere to clinical standards
- Exclude any statements of apology or regret made by medical professionals from admissible evidence in court
When compounded together, these reforms make it clear that many politicians are intent on siding with corporations at the expense of American citizens who voice abuses and wrongdoings in our civil justice system. By placing profits over people, these corporate powers, lobbyists, and lawmakers show that they value money more than they value the foundational principles of civil justice or the rights of victims who suffered injuries and profound losses as a result of another’s negligence.
At The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D & Associates, our Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyers are passionate about protecting the rights of victims and families who suffer preventable harm at the hands of negligent and careless medical providers. This entails our constant fight against insurance companies and corporate entities that want nothing more than to limit the amount of compensation they pay the injured and the wronged. It also involves our efforts to raise awareness about tort reform efforts that slash victims’ rights and to educate the public about the true motives behind reform, damages caps, and laws that favor corporations over people.
While tort reform and damages caps will continue to be a debated subject, accountability for preventable injuries should never be. This is why our legal team is readily available to help victims and families explore their rights following birth injuries, surgical errors, and other cases of medical malpractice. If you have questions about your rights and what our firm can do to help, contact us for a free consultation.
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Dr. Michael M. Wilson is an attorney and a physician who earned his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his legal and medical degrees from Georgetown University. He has focused in the area of medical malpractice for more than three decades and secured more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the country. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.
