Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
As of October 29, 2003
National BusinessInsurance.com, “Med mal reform is bad medicine,” 2/24/03 (Commentary by Joanne Wojcik, Senior Editor). BusinessWeek, “A Second Opinion on the Malpractice Plague,” 3/3/03 (Commentary by Lorraine Woellert, Legal Affairs). Legal Times, “Tort Reform or Deform for D.C.? Proposed malpractice caps would leave victims without fair compensation,” Vol. 26, No. 21, Public Citizen's report on the District of Columbia cited, May 26, 2003 (Op-ed by Jack H. Olender). New York Times, “A Free Ride for Bad Doctors,” 3/4/03 (Op-ed by Sidney Wolfe, Director, Public Citizen Health Research Group). Newsday, “A Merciful Death for Senate's Malpractice Reforms,” 7/14/03 (Editorial). USA Today, “Tighten up on insurers,” 2/11/03 (Op-ed by Joanne Doroshow, Exec. Director, Center for Justice and Democracy). The Wall Street Journal, “The Bogus Tort-Reform Case,” 3/6/03 (Al Hunt’s Column). California Los Angeles Times, “Turning Patients Into Hostages,” 1/6/03 (Op-ed by Jonathan Turley, Professor at George Washington University Law School). Oakland Tribune, “Bush’s malpractice plan too simplistic,” 2/10/03 (Editorial). San Francisco Chronicle, “Malpractice refo rm is not a panacea,” 3/12/03 (Editorial). Connecticut Hartford Courant, “Medical Mistakes, Not Lawsuits, Are the Problem,” 1/26/03 (Op-ed by Tom Baker, University of Connecticut Law School).
Delaware The News Journal, “MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Delaware courts offer best protection against excessive jury awards,” 3/31/03 (Editorial). The News Journal, “INJURY CAPS Medical malpractice isn't broken so why attempt to fix it?” 6/9/03 (Editorial). Florida Florida Today, “A Bad Move,” 5/27/03 (Editorial). Miami Herald, “Award Caps for Medical Malpractice Won’t Help Situation,” 4/7/03 (Editorial). Orlando Sentinel, “Lawmakers need to admit there is no proof caps will cut insurance rates,” 3/15/03 (Editorial). Orlando Sentinel, “Bad apples hurt doctors’ call for malpractice cap,” 4/6/03 (Column by Mike Thomas). Orlando Sentinel, “Other avenues; Our position: The Malpractice Insurance Problem Won’t Be Solved With A Cap,” 4/13/03 (Editorial). Orlando Sentinel, “Speed it Up: legislators aren’t acting like they want to solve the insurance problem,” 6/26/03 (Editorial). Palm Beach Post, “Give prescriptions, not placebo,” 2/2/03 (Editorial by Dan Moffet). Palm Beach Post, “Place no cap on reform,” 2/14/03 (Editorial). Palm Beach Post, “Malpractice Crisis Ends When Bush Stops Pouting,” 7/903 (Editorial). St. Petersburg Times, “Quack remedy to cap malpractice awards,” 1/19/03 (Column by Martin Dyckman). St. Petersburg Times, “First, do no harm,” 4/2/03 (Editorial). Sun-Sentinel, “Tort reform not the answer,” 3/10/03 (Op-ed by C.A. Fugate, Registered Nurse). Sun-Sentinel, “Doctors Tactic Wrong Approach to Bring Insurance Fees in Line,” 5/19/03 (Oped by Bill Newton, Executive Director of the Florida Consumer Action Network). Sun-Sentinel, “Malpractice Tip of Healthcare Crisis,” 6/25/03 (Op-ed by John Silver, R.N. Boca Raton).
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Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Sun-Sentinel, “Base Solution to crisis on its real cause,” 7/09/03 (Op-ed by Steve Geller, Florida State Representative). Sun-Sentinel, “WAR ON FRAUD AN URGENT GOAL,” 10/10/03 (Editorial). Tampa Tribune, “Don't Make Injured Patients Victims Twice,” 6/22/03 (Editorial). Georgia The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Our Opinion: Girl’s death may dim view of tort reform,” 3/2/03 (Editorial). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Is Tort Reform Necessary? No: ‘Trojan horse’ plunders patients,” 3/12/03 (Op-ed by Bill Clark, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association). The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Malpractice reform plan goes too far,” 3/27/03 (Column by Jay Bookman). Illinois Chicago Tribune, “Medical Malpractice at a Discount,” 1/22/03 (Op-ed by Steven Lubet, Northwestern University School of Law). Chicago Tribune, “Uncovering sins of medical malpractice caps,” 1/23/03 (Column by Molly Ivins). Chicago Sun-Times, “Backers of malpractice award limits ignore the victims,” 3/24/03 (Op-ed by Kathleen Osberger). Chicago Sun-Times, “Docs Protest High Cost of Malpractice: Is the problem jury awards or insurance companies' greed?” 5/14/03 (Op-ed by Lucio Guerrero). Indiana Indianapolis Star, “Too many lawsuits or blue suits,” 3/2/03 (Editorial). Iowa The Des Moines Register, “The malpractice myth,” 7/11/03 (Editorial). Kentucky The Gleaner, “Malpractice insurance reforms are worthless unless patient is made a priority,” 3/2/03 (Op-ed by Sen. Daniel Mongiardo, MD).
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Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Maryland Baltimore Sun, “Politics block cure for crisis,” 1/23/03 (Molly Ivins’ Column). Massachusetts Boston Globe, “Malpractice Maladies,” 3/2/03 (Editorial). Boston Globe, “Don’t blame the victim; It’s the insurance companies,” 4/6/03 (Op-ed by Elizabeth N. Mulvey, partner in the Boston law firm of Crow & Mulvey LLP). Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, “Tort Reform,” 9/18/03 (Editorial). Missouri St. Louis Post Dispatch, “The Wrong Prescription,” 1/19/03 (Editorial). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Care means more than caps,” 4/8/03 (Commentary by Michael L. Millenson). Nevada The Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Fun with numbers,” 3/2/03 (Column by Steve Sebelius). New Jersey Courier Post, “Malpractice suit caps won’t solve the problem,” 3/16/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Doctors make a weak case,” 2/4/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Crack down on the few lousy doctors, and the crisis might be cured,” 2/9/03 (Column by John McLaughlin). Star-Ledger, “Doctors have put a cap on the truth,” 2/18/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Avoid simplistic solutions to the malpractice crisis,” 2/19/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Doctors’ dubious number,” 3/13/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Malpractice reform rushed,” 3/24/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Get facts on malpractice,” 4/7/03 (Editorial). Star Ledger, “A key to malpractice reform,” 4/27/03 (Editorial).
Public Citizen’s Congress Watch 4 Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Star Ledger, “Doctors' case isn't proved,” 5/15/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, “Go get the information,” 5/28/03 (Editorial). Star-Ledger, "New reason for doubt on malpractice caps,” 6/8/03 (Editorial). New York Buffalo News, “Frivolous Malpractice Suits are Rare," 5/11/03 (Op-ed by Joseph D. Mintz, NY Supreme Court Justice). Buffalo News, “Insurance Industry, Not Lawsuits, To Blame for Doctor's Problems," 5/11/03 (Op-ed by Joanne Doroshow, Center for Justice and Democracy). Buffalo News, “Trial Lawyers Reply to Tort Reform Series,” 5/18/03 (Op-ed by Timothy O'Connell, President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association). Daily Record (Rochester, NY), “Doctors’ lobby day won’t resolve malpractice insurance issues,” 4/8/03 (Op-ed by Lorraine Power Tharp, president of the New York Bar Association). Newsday, “Bush Malpractice Plan Is Very Bad Medicine,” 1/24/03 (Op-ed by Steven Lubey, Northwestern University School of Law). Newsday, “Caps May Not Be Answer to Malpractice Mess,” 1/26/03, (Editorial). Newsday, “Value of Human Lives Shouldn’t Be Capped,” 2/25/03 (Marie Cocco’s Column). New York Times, “A Free Ride for Bad Doctors,” 3/4/03 (Op-ed by Sidney Wolfe, Director, Public Citizen Health Research Group). The Post-Standard Syracuse, NY, “Lobby Day for Doctors Won’t Resolve Insurance ‘Crisis’,” 5/5/03 (Op-ed by Lorraine Power Tharp, president of the New York Bar Association). The Post-Standard Syracuse, NY, “Medical Malpractice, Not Insurance, The Problem,” 5/30/03 (Op-ed by Blair Horner, Legislative Director of the New York Public Interest Research Group). Star Gazette (Elmira, NY), “Doctors must heal own system,” 4/20/03 (Op-ed by Lorraine Power Tharp, President of the New York Bar Association). North Carolina Fayetteville Observer, “Malpractice cure: There are better ways than capping awards,” 4/27/03 (Editorial).
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Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Greensboro News & Record, “Malpractice Debate: Treat The Illness,” 4/20/03 (Editorial). Greensboro News & Record, “Vulnerable Would Suffer From Caps,” 4/22/03 (Op-ed by April Messer, patients’ spokeswoman for the N.C. Coalition for Patients’ Rights). Morning Star (Wilmington, NC), “Serious malady, dubious remedy…” 4/10/03 (Editorial). News & Observer, “Wrong Medicine,” 1/20/03 (Editorial). News & Observer, “Ill- fitting cap,” 3/16/03 (Editorial). News & Observer, “…other prescriptions,” 4/2/03 (Editorial). News & Observer, “Bad medicine…” 4/2/03 (Editorial). News & Observer, “First, file no lawsuits,” 4/14/03 (Column by Ruth Sheehan). Oregon The Oregonian, “Misleading malpractice reform,” 4/1/03 (Editorial). Statesman Journal, “Malpractice caps are wrong,” 4/3/03 (Op-ed by Calvin P. “Kelly” Vance). Pennsylvania Harrisburg Patriot News, “Insurers created medical problem,” 2/23/03 (Op-ed by Peter M. Villari). Harrisburg Patriot News, “Shutdown by state physicians sure to backfire,” 4/30/03 (Op-ed by Charles B. Inlander, president of the People’s Medical Society). Harrisburg Patriot News, “Look beyond caps to ease malpractice issue,” 5/9/03 (Editorial). Harrisburg Patriot News, “Partial Aid: State backed malpractice fund offers hope against insurance crisis,” 5/15/03 (Editorial). Morning Call, “Jury award caps are easy to sell, but are no medical malpractice solution,” 1/19/03 (Editorial). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “A Painful Malpractice Debate: Both sides want you to feel that life could go away at any moment,” 7/14/03 (Op-ed by Michael Kinsley). York Daily Record, “What’s ailing medicine? Blaming attorney’s is a false easy tactic,” 3/23/03 (Op-ed by Ted Kennett). York Daily Record, “Pa. not disciplining its doctors,” 10/3/03 (Op-Ed by Stanley Silver).
Public Citizen’s Congress Watch 6 Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Tennessee The Commercial Appeal Memphis, "Tort Wars Raise Complex Issues,” 5/23/03. (Op-Ed by Alfred Carlton, president of the American Bar Association). Texas Dallas Morning News, “With stronger policing of doctors, lawsuits will decline,” 4/3/03 (Op-ed by Tom “Smitty” Smith, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen). Ft. Worth Star Telegram, “Our health care system is a real pill,” 1/23/03 (Molly Ivins Column). Ft. Worth Star Telegram, “Unhealthy system,” 3/23/03 (Editorial). Ft. Worth Star Telegram, “Underfed watchdog,” 3/25/03 (Editorial). Ft. Worth Star Telegram, “What’s been done?” 3/26/03 (Editorial). Houston Chronicle, “BAD MEDICINE/ Doctors’ malpractice lies at hear of insurance crisis,” 1/12/03 (Editorial). Houston Chronicle, “All but closing the courthouse door,” 3/16/03 (Editorial). Houston Chronicle, “AVOID THIS CRASH / Tort reform would protect negligent doctors, businesses,” 4/2/03 (Editorial). Houston Chronicle, "Trying to slip one by Texas voters,” 5/25/03 (Editorial). San Antonio Express-News, “Put malpractice blame on the guilty,” 4/6/03 (Op-ed by Cathleen Lockhart, an attorney in San Diego). Utah Salt Lake Tribune, “Political Malpractice,” 1/21/03 (Editorial). Vermont Rutland Herald, “Day in court,” 7/12/03 (Editorial). Virginia Roanoke Times & World News, “The Wrong Remedy for the Malpractice System,” 3/17/03 (Editorial).
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Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation
Washington Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Curtailing Consumer Protection,” 1/12/03 (Editorial). Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Limits on Malpractice Awards Won’t Solve Problem,” 2/2/03 (Editorial). Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Damage cap on malpractice would kill incentive to prevent errors,” 2/23/03 (Guest Columnists Craig and Elizabeth Jackman). Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Epidemic of Medical Errors, Not Awards, Fuels Malpractice Crisis,” 3/9/03 (Op-ed by Sidney Wolfe, Director, Public Citizen Health Research Group). Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “Beware another bad ‘solution’ to malpractice premium increases,” 4/20/03 (Op-ed by Rosa Franklin, State Senator). Washington D.C. The Washington Post, “Let's Keep Doctors in Business,” 5/20/03. (Op-ed by Senator John Edwards, D-NC). The Washington Times, “Constitutional malpractice,” 4/2/03 (Op-ed by Robert A. Levy, senior fellow in constitutional studies at the Cato Institute). West Virginia Charleston Gazette, “Insurance reform is real answer,” 1/17/03 (Editorial). Charleston Gazette, “Malpractice National nightmare,” 1/22/03 (Editorial). Charleston Gazette, “Insurance companies are the real villains of the health-care crisis,” 1/23/03 (Column by Molly Ivins). Charleston Gazette, “Bad doctors cause horrors,” 3/12/03 (Editorial). Charleston Gazette, “More safeguards needed,” 3/12/03 (Editorial). Charleston Gazette, “Malpractice Caps don't cut premiums,” 6/4/03 (Editorial). Wisconsin The Capitol Times, “Slashing victims’ rights won’t slash malpractice premiums,” 3/24/03 (Op-ed by Lynn R. Laufenberg, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers).
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Editorials and Columns Opposing Anti-Consumer Medical Malpractice Legislation