Kitzhaber signs medical-error mediation bill
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a bill creating a new mediation process for patients injured by medical mistakes.
Kitzhaber signed the measure Monday flanked by legislators and the leaders of the Oregon Medical Association and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association.
The governor and other supporters of the bill say it's a remarkable agreement between doctors and lawyers, who are often at odds over efforts to limit the costs of health care lawsuits. But critics say it won't do anything to reduce medical costs because it doesn't cap the amount of money that juries can award to patients injured by medical errors.
The measure would allow injured patients to confidentially discuss the error and a possible settlement with the hospital or clinic where the mistake occurred.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Is it possible that accountable care organizations (ACOs) will create an uptick in medical malpractice claims? http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=6245
Damn, i thought this article was about medical MJ, I guess i got stoned and missed something.
Kitz knows. Save killers, abort, and protect doctors. Welcome obama care
it wont stop errors either as long as doctors and facilites are not held liable, doctors can stop working in one state to avoid punishment and get another job in the next state. etc...No cap on lawsuits should be made until changes are made to the way medical establishments deal with bad doctors and bad practices.
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@feral @Josh Johnshum You know what? I got the old farm tools that could very easily turn you both into eunuch's=A man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction.
Just call it what it is....a "get out of jail free" card for the death panels.  What a disgraceful politician.
the leading cause of outragous settlements is a) the malpractice and harm to patients b) excessive charges by lawyers.
Harmed patients never get the care they deserve before or after they are injured.
@Icarus While the attorneys get rich so they can buy the newest MB, or BMW.
It will be a cold day in hell before the lawyers voluntarily give up the millions they get from ambulance chasing. Â Â
This most likely will go along with Obummacare...and the 15 page application needed to get medical insurance, plus the 3 separate government departments that must review every medical procedure that is performed.  In the end, Obummacare will probably save the government some money ( to be diverted to politicians pockets) by just not covering most things the normal insurance would have covered. Big question...has ANYONE, at this time ever read through Obummacare's full package? and is this patterned after at least part of it?
Thanks Oregon voters for scr**ing us again by putting Katslobber in the office for a 3rd time. Both other terms he was rated as one of the worst governors Oregon has ever had...now he is showing his stuff by protecting the doctors...and I'll bet there is something somewhere in the bill that will prevent any disclosure of what is "mediated"...and the mediation board apparently can give any amount of settlement they want...and just who is going to be ont the board? Most likely people the governor appoints that will do his bidding....what a wonderful addition we have to the state now...NOT!
When the GOV is done, there will be no doctors, because the GOV is only going to want to pay them minimum wage under obabma care and pay the welfare folk $100k a year to vote them in.
Seriously, this is a step to prevent the GOV from paying out when it dictates our medical system 100%.
As long as the erring doctor is not protected from the mistake - meaning that he/she is held accountable for it. It should also be made "public" in the sense that other potential patients are able to be made aware of this information before using him/her in their situation.  No one should applaud an agreement between doctors and lawyers to hush the mistake of medical professionals and the facilities backing them. Containing/capping frivolous lawsuits is another issue altogether and should be addressed absolutely - but honest malpractice issues still need to be addressed and sometimes that includes money for future expenses that the mistake caused.  But I am 100% against keeping the mistakes quiet. There needs to be the ability for these to be viewed by other potential patients, just like businesses that do bad business practice. Except in this case, it could cost you or a loved one much more, up to and including a life.
Kitzhaber may have just done something productive for once !
@Rob C 503Â To protect doctors and abortionists
The mediation folks will be busy. There are lots of medical mistakes that range from a guy going into surgery for a bone spur and coming out a woman to a Democrat getting a heart transplant from a Neo Nazi.
@RalphCramden Ralph, don't tell the kids how Democrats are born! That's the parents job!
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@feral @oops @RalphCramden Egypt kills soccer fans
I think this is major. I don't know all the details, but I bet you have to go through arbitration before you can go to court. It will just make it harder to sue.
Kitzhaber is a medical error!
It seems to me that a conflict of interest exists when a has been doctor signs a bill to protect doctors and hospitals! Will this governor (and I use the term loosely) ever represent the people of Oregon, or just the special interests that support him? It just seems like he is totally unwilling to do his job, at any level.