Wisconsin Court: Witnesses cannot seek medical damages
Claims Journal, San Diego, CA (Associated Press) - Jul 13, 2009
..In a decision praised by doctors but criticized by trial lawyers, the court ruled 5-2 that Wisconsin's medical malpractice law does not allow bystanders to seek damages for emotional distress...

Appellate court upholds California medical liability cap
American Medical News, CA - Jul 13, 2009
...The Court of Appeal of the State of California, 5th Appellate District ruled that the dollar limit set under the state's 1975 Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, or MICRA, is constitutional and doesn't infringe on a jury's power...

Arizona governor signs bill on medical malpractice suits
Insurance Journal, CA (Associated Press) - Jul 13, 2009
Arizona is making it harder to successfully sue emergency medical providers for alleged malpractice...

Opinion - David M. Walker: Rein in insane health costs
Daily News, New York, NY - Jul 13, 2009
...shouldn't we also improve standards across the board for medical practices by designing and implementing a set of national evidence-based practice standards that will enhance quality, reduce health care costs and dramatically bring down malpractice litigation risks?...

Opinion - Michael Kinsley: Pick health care's 'low fruit' for reform
The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA - Jul 13, 2009
...My list would start with malpractice reform. An achingly balanced CBO report last year cited a study showing that victims of medical negligence are 2 1/2 times more likely to get compensation than people who were not victims...

Editorial: Health-care savings
The Washington Post - DC - Jul 13, 2009
...Finally, changes in the current, irrational system of medical malpractice litigation might help lower costs. The evidence that costs are driven up by doctors practicing defensive medicine to protect themselves from lawsuits is scant. But higher malpractice premiums are passed on to consumers...

N.H. doctors sue to stop state raid on medical liability fund
American Medical News, Chicago, IL - Jul 13, 2009
...The plaintiffs are asking the Belknap County Superior Court permanently to block any JUA fund transfer and compel the insurer to return any potential surplus to its policyholders...

Opinion - Michael Koskoff: 'Defensive medicine' a myth - It's only greed
Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT - Jul 12, 2009
...The doctors' convoluted argument that defensive medicine is the reason for unnecessary medical procedures is unsubstantiated and makes no logical sense. To understand why, some knowledge of malpractice law is helpful...

Opinion - Tom Baker: Liability = Responsibility
New York Times, NY - Jul 11, 2009
OUR medical liability system needs reform. But anyone who thinks that limiting liability would reduce health care costs is fooling himself...

Opinion - Michelle Mello/Amitabh Chandra: The cap doesn't fit
New York Times, NY - Jul 11, 2009
DOCTORS are battered by the medical malpractice system. They complain, with reason, about unpredictable jury awards, escalating insurance premiums, the emotional toll of litigation...