Political Quotes

“yesterday, the Senate voted on two motions to invoke cloture to proceed to legislation regarding medical malpractice. Due to a mechanical problem with the plane on my flight from Chicago, I was necessarily absent for this debate and the first vote. Had I been present for that vote, I would have voted against the motion to invoke cloture, and I did vote against the second motion. Since 2003, the last time Congress considered this issue, 34 States have passed malpractice legislation. Four additional States have pending legislation in this year. AMA counts 21 States as ``crisis'' States. Of those 21 States, 16 States passed legislation in the past 2 years, and two are currently considering bills. Instead of considering ways to cap pain and suffering damages for injured patients, Congress should be working on other health care priorities. Neither S. 22 nor S. 23 do anything to address medical errors, the underlying reason for medical malpractice lawsuits. According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors have caused more American deaths per year than breast cancer, AIDS and car accidents combined. It is equivalent to a jumbo jet liner crashing every 24 hours for 1 year. When I sat on the Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, testified about patient safety.…”