Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Medical Malpractice Claims

Among the hot topics for debate by candidates across the country are the role of government, health care costs and the possibility of tort reform.

2010-12-22

December 22, 2010 (Press-News.org) There are many issues confronting voters this election cycle. Among the hot topics for debate by the candidates across the country are the role of government, the impact of taxes and health care costs, including the possibility of tort reform.

The candidates running for governor in Georgia are facing many, if not all, of these same issues. At the first formal debate between the candidates, the health care debate took center stage with tort reform -- which could potentially limit the ability of injured patients to bring malpractice lawsuits -- receiving much of the scrutiny.

In March, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down a 2005 state law that imposed limits on jury awards in medical malpractice cases.

Republican candidate Nathan Deal, a former Congressman, disagrees with the Georgia Supreme Court's decision and is in favor of amending the Georgia Constitution to re-impose the jury award limits. Deal claims, that, if put to a vote, voters "would overwhelmingly say yes because they understand the practical consequences of it."

However, Democrat candidate Roy Barnes, former governor of Georgia, agrees with the court's decision and is against an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would re-impose the limits. Barnes notes that, "[g]enerally, the jury does the right thing. Occasionally, they get cranked up and don't. And in those cases we give judges the right to correct that." Instead, Barnes suggests "cracking down on frivolous cases" by imposing fines and awarding attorneys fees to the parties who face such lawsuits.

For now, Georgia courts are unencumbered by award limits for medical malpractice issues, so if you or a loved one has suffered at the hands of a reckless or negligent medical care provider, contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area to discuss your rights and options. An attorney can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Article provided by Bird Law Group
Visit us at www.birdmabrey.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Medical Research Studies Sometimes Bring Questions Instead of Answers

2010-12-22

A recently released study performed by medical researchers at the Mayo Clinic (and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine) provides insight into the problem of incidental findings. Incidental findings -- those unrelated to the subject being studied -- are present in nearly 40% of exam results analyzed in the Mayo Clinic survey. Researchers have to tread carefully when deciding what course of action to take if confronted by an incidental finding. Oftentimes anomalies are simply ignored, even if they could potentially signal an underlying condition. In fact, the ...

Muslims Report Increased Discrimination at Work

2010-12-22

A recent New York Times story discusses the increasing occurrence of discrimination against workers who are identified as Muslim. Last year, Muslim workers filed a record 803 claims of discrimination in the year ended Sept. 30, 2009. That was up 20 percent from the previous year and up nearly 60 percent from 2005, according to federal data. Although Muslims make up less than 2 percent of the United States population, they accounted for about one-quarter of the 3,386 religious discrimination claims filed with the E.E.O.C. last year. Complaints filed by Jews rose slightly ...

New Law Limits Media Access to Child Autopsy Reports

2010-12-22

Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 5 into law on September 25. It had been introduced by Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, and it allows autopsy reports to be sealed at the request of the victim's parents. It was passed in response to media requests for documents in the cases of 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois, who were killed in separate abductions in California by the same convicted sex offender. The Legislature noted, "Thousands of Californians are murdered each year, a statistic that has remained steady for over 30 years. The emotional pain ...

New Law May Bring New Benefits to Veterans

2010-12-22

President Obama signed The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 law this fall. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner said, "This bill will make a big difference in the lives of many of America's brave veterans." The new law addresses many of the needs of veterans, with key provisions including: Enhances Employment Opportunities - Provides an 18-month period for training of new disabled veterans' outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment representatives by the National Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute. - Extends authority ...

Will Immigrant Youth Ever Get to Live the American DREAM?

2010-12-22

The oft-delayed Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act took one step forward and two steps back recently, as the United States House of Representatives passed a version of the legislation that would bring illegal immigrants who were brought to America as children a chance at citizenship. Less than one day later, however, the Senate tabled a vote that was supposed to take place, putting it on hold until further notice. Unfortunately, on December 18 the Senate, in a special Saturday session, voted against the bill, leaving the DREAM Act back in legislative ...

Helpful Tips To Avoid Distracted Driving

2010-12-22

Driving has become increasingly more dangerous with the advent of text messaging and mp3 players. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that car accidents kill 40,000 Americans and account for millions of injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving contributed to 16 percent of all traffic accidents. Distracted driving has become such a prevalent issue, it has lead to a ban on the use of cell phones while driving many states and the District of Columbia. However, a number of factors -- beyond the use ...

Are Medical Rankings Reliable?

2010-12-22

When we go under the knife for surgery, we place our lives in the hands of the doctor performing the operation and the hospital where it is taking place. We trust that we will be treated with care and that all precautions will be taken to keep us safe. However, sad it may be, some doctors and hospitals simply do a better job than others when it comes to protecting the safety of patients. While there are surveys and rankings of hospitals to available to patients, keep in mind that they might not really be an accurate representation of the care you will receive. Dr. Atul ...

Test Indicates Which Mothers Need Cesarean Sections

2010-12-22

For the mothers that endure prolonged hours of labor only to have a Cesarean section (C-section) in the end, a new test performed at the early stages of labor could indicate that a C-section should be performed. Based on research by Liverpool University, Swedish company Obstecare has developed a test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the amniotic fluid. If high levels of lactic acid are present, it is doubtful that the mother will be able to deliver the baby vaginally, as lactic acid at certain levels begins to inhibit contractions. The test could help end difficult ...

Van City Man Urges City to Ban Pit Bulls after Granddaughter Attacked

2010-12-22

After a horrifying dog attack on his granddaughter, a Texas grandfather recently urged the Van City Council to ban dangerous dog breeds. The state of Texas has a state-wide law on dog bites, however, cities and counties may instate local laws that create more protection for their residents. Terrifying Dog Attack On Halloween night, Douglas Wolfe's 2-year-old granddaughter, Summer, was viciously mauled in Van, Texas by a neighbor's 7-month-old pit bull. Summer knew and trusted the dog, but for unknown reasons, attacked her that evening. According to East Texas KLTV ...

Tucson Police Work to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

2010-12-22

According to The Arizona Daily Wildcat, the Tucson Police Department received a $44,000 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to help prevent pedestrian and bicycle accidents. With the grant money, undercover officers have been targeting motorists who drive too close to sidewalks and bike lanes, and bicyclists and pedestrians who jaywalk or do not use bike lanes. The officers have issued 789 citations since the special enforcement started on August 10. The Phoenix-based law firm of Solomon & Relihan applauds the Tucson police department and the Governor's ...