Phil Gingrey: “I yield myself 3 minutes. A couple of minutes ago I was given some statistics. I want to continue in that vein. The…”

“I yield myself 3 minutes. A couple of minutes ago I was given some statistics. I want to continue in that vein. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) just mentioned the situation in California. Of course, this bill, H.R. 5, is patterned after that very successful MICRA legislation, Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, passed in 1979 in California. Here we are some 26 years later, and medical malpractice insurance premium rates have stabilized, growing only at about 6 percent per year. But listen to these numbers in regard to whether people continue to get just compensation for their injuries when you do have a cap on so- called noneconomic or pain and suffering. September 2003, 9-year-old boy, San Francisco jury awarded $70.9 million in compensatory damages after finding a hospital and a medical clinic negligent for failing to diagnose his metabolic disease. December 2002, $84.250 million total award, Alameda County, a 5-year- old boy with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia because of delayed treatment of jaundice after birth. January 1999, $21.789 million award, Los Angeles County, newborn girl with cerebral palsy and mental retardation because of a birth-related injury. October 1997, $25 million total award, San Diego County, boy with severe brain damage, spastic quadriplegia, mental retardation because of too much anesthesia administered during a procedure.…”