Jon Kyl: “Obviously, by proposing the reform, we are hoping to have an impact on the problem. Part of the problem, as I indicated…”

“Obviously, by proposing the reform, we are hoping to have an impact on the problem. Part of the problem, as I indicated, is the fact that, particularly in rural areas but not limited to rural areas, and in particular ob-gyn's have either stopped practicing or have cut back their practice just to the gynecological services rather than obstetrical services. Nationally, 12.3 percent of the ob-gyn's have given up obstetrics totally, due to liability pressures. Nationally, 22.8 percent of the ob-gyn's have drastically decreased the amount of care they have provided because of this. So one could conclude that, if we were able to put a cap on these damages, at least some of this problem would go away.”