John Tierney: “I want to say that we all understand the issues that are here and we understand the impact that premiums have on…”

“I want to say that we all understand the issues that are here and we understand the impact that premiums have on doctors, but it is a shame that we have to choose a vehicle in this bill that pits doctors against victims of malpractice. The doctors that come into my office understand that if there is an error made they want the patient to be compensated. There is no offer in this bill to give us a system better than the jury system. There is an arbitrary amount set that even doctors, when they look at it, understand that there is not nearly enough to fully compensate people. This is simply an insurance company bill, an HMO bill, a prescription drug manufacturing bill that will limit their liability, and in order to try to push it through, pits doctors, well-intended doctors, against patients, victims. The fact of the matter is this legislation should be looking at ways to weed out undeserving suits so that doctors are not exposed to them, while making sure that we preserve a way for people that are injured to get their full compensation in a fair manner. We have to also add into that premium control because the insurance companies simply are not a well-run organization, and that is where the answer is for doctors, improve that with insurance reform.”