CONGRESS
Lee introduces bill on malpractice reform
WASHINGTON—Rep. Chris Lee, a Clarence Republican who has made his concerns about a lack of malpractice reform a key to his opposition to Democratic health care legislation, Thursday introduced his own bill revamping the medical liability system.
Lee’s bill would create a state medical tribunal system pilot program, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Modeled after a program already operating in Massachusetts, the bill would set up a system where a three-member panel—a judge, a physician and a lawyer— would hold a hearing to determine if the facts are sufficient to raise a question of liability in a potential malpractice case.
If the panel allows the case to proceed, the person who files the case would have to file bond in an amount, determined by the judge, payable to the defendant for costs should the plaintiff not prevail in the final judgment.
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