The Utah Legislature Considering Bill to reduce medical malpractice to $ 1

Salt Lake City – a prepared bill to significantly change how medical malpractice cases are managed in the state is advancing on the Hill Capitol in Utah.

The draft law 503 of the house would reduce the total damage that someone can receive for their wounds to $ 1, among a few other provisions that include changing the pre-news process for these applications.

A trip to the hospital always comes from a preoccupied situation, the hope being that the recovery is right around the corner.

“Oakley was treated for an infection,” said Melissa Hansen. “The 7-year-old who was very bright, went to an ordinary elementary school”

But Hansen says she lost the boy she knew, her son Oakley, at a medical mistake avoidable after another.

“While our child was in the hospital, Oakley suffered two cardiac stops, large -scale organ injuries and several strokes,” Hansen said.

30 years ago, Oakley is left quadripigegic and on the support of life.

“Oakley is dependent on us for every basic need,” Hansen said.

So his mother spoke against Bill 503 House. She says that one million dollars in total damages are simply insufficient. While he cannot discuss his own settlement, he mentioned that even now, 23 years later, his cost of care is still about $ 1 million annually.

Oakley’s story was just one of several divided in the business, labor, labor and trade committee on Tuesday, the basic idea being that those who were catastrophic injured would not be properly covered in this bill.

“This draft law is to protect the rich, not the victim like me,” said a man who testified about his debilitating wounds caused by medical malpractice.

Rep. Katy Hall is the sponsor of the bill and says it is not meant to be against those who have legitimate claims, but rather to keep good doctors in Utah.

“Increasing the processes adds another layer of stress and tightening on our suppliers, pushing many to the point of breaking and chasing them away from the full profession,” said Rep. Hall, R-South Ogden.

Several health associations spoke in support of her effort.

“We have a challenge in keeping doctors in practice in this state,” said David Gessel, who holds the position of executive vice president of the Utah Hospital Association.

But other doctors underlined the problems they saw.

“This changes financial responsibilities to the public through Medicare and Medicaid,” said Dr. Ryan Coil.

Even though he went outside the commission, several parliamentarians who voted in his favor were needed before heading to the Chamber floor. His sponsor also acknowledged that the bill could cause problems for those like Oakley.

“In the (severe) cases you have heard, I can see the problems,” said Rep. Hall.

HB 503 has passed with a margin of 10-4 and now moves to the full house to be considered less than two weeks left in the session.