Bart Stupak: “I regret to say that my optimism was misplaced. I am sorry to say 1 year and 2 weeks later, we still have not passed the…”

“I regret to say that my optimism was misplaced. I am sorry to say 1 year and 2 weeks later, we still have not passed the Patients' Bill of Rights. Since that time, public clamor for a real, genuine Patients' Bill of Rights has only grown. The public recognizes that, like the first ten amendments to the Constitution, there are real people and real rights that need to be protected. Medical decisions which affect the very livelihood of people and their quality of life must be made by doctors, in consultation with patients, not insurance accountants. Patients must be able to hold HMOs liable, accountable, for decisions that affect their lives and the quality of life, not some travesty of an internal review process.”