Mark Kirk: “I rise in support of H.R. 5. Without this bill health care in my State of Illinois will change for the worse. I am…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 5. Without this bill health care in my State of Illinois will change for the worse. I am standing here representing Dr. Gina Wehrmann, who after paying her malpractice bill made less than the office manager in her practice and is now a pharmacist at Walgreens. I also stand with Dr. Scott Hansfield, head of obstetrics at Highland Park Hospital, who recently notified 2,500 of my constituents that he is leaving the practice of medicine and moving to a tort reform State. The AMA has just put Illinois on the crisis list of liability watch for their practice. And in testimony before the Committee on Small Business, we learned that 85 percent of neurosurgeons have been sued in my State. Asked if this is too many, the plaintiffs' association said, no, 85 percent of neurosurgeons in Illinois were bad doctors. I am worried about the plaintiffs' bar and its unintended war on women, forcing OB/GYNs out of my State of Illinois. This is needed legislation. We need to pass it now.”