October, 21 2009, 02:28pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Injured Medical Malpractice Survivors Travel to Washington, D.C., to Protect Patients' Rights
Victims Thank Lawmakers Who Oppose Limiting The Legal Rights of Medical Malpractice Victims
WASHINGTON
Families from nine states, including many who have been
catastrophically injured due to medical malpractice, traveled to
Washington, D.C. today to ask Congress to ensure that the much-needed
health care bill does not strip injured patients of their legal rights.
The malpractice survivors also thanked lawmakers who stood with them at
a news conference today, including U.S. House Judiciary Chairman John
Conyers (D-MI) and Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA).
The victims' visit to Washington, hosted by eight national consumer
groups, comes at a crucial time as the United States Congress and the
White House work to draft a final heath care reform bill. Some in
Congress have been pressing to limit the legal rights of patients
injured by grossly negligent medical care.
"We want to thank Chairman Conyers and Representative Braley for
their support of families around the country who have been hurt by
medical neglience," said Lisa Gourley of Nebraska, whose son Colin was
brain-damaged at birth as a result of a doctor's negligence. "I hope
the entire U.S. Congress takes their lead by focusing their attention
on preventing these tragedies from happening and protecting the legal
rights of all Americans."
"We must not solve the nation's health care problems on the backs of
injured patients and their loved ones. We hope Members of Congress will
join Chairman Conyers and Representative Braley and reflect on the
tragic stories of these American families who traveled great distances
in rejecting any limits on their legal rights," said Joanne Doroshow,
Executive Director of the Center for Justice & Democracy. "There
are so many more pressing health care issues that must be addressed,
and patient safety is a major one. The last thing we want to do is take
away victims' rights."
"Preventable medical errors have reached epidemic rates and are one
of the nation's most urgent safety problems," said David Arkush,
director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch division. "Congress should
work on curing this epidemic, not compounding the damage by shielding
bad doctors and limiting the rights of victims."
"Medical malpractice makes up a tiny portion of health care costs
but is a big problem for its victims - the 98,000 Americans who die
each year from medical errors as well as their family members and loved
ones," said Jeff Blum, USAction executive director. "Quality,
affordable health care reform will reduce medical errors, bring down
costs and rein in the insurance industry's abuses. That's a promise we
all can live with."
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