Jim Ramstad: “as chair of the task force which crafted the legal reform plank of the Contract With America, I feel extremely gratified…”

“as chair of the task force which crafted the legal reform plank of the Contract With America, I feel extremely gratified to see an important part of our efforts come so far in the process. Although the reforms contained in the conference report are not as sweeping as those the House put forward last year, they are a vast improvement over the present legal system. Our present system results in higher prices for consumers, lost jobs, and stifled innovation. I want to talk about a particular provision in this conference report which is more than just sound economic policy; it is sound health policy. Over 11 million Americans rely on implanted medical technologies, ranging from artificial joints to complex mechanical devices such as cardiac defibrillators and drug infusion pumps. Unfortunately, the spectre of product liability litigation has caused many raw material suppliers to restrict the use of their products in implanted medical devices. The lack of materials and components for these medical devices jeopardizes the well-being--and in some cases the very lives--of the millions of Americans who depend on these technologies. The biomaterials access assurance provisions of H.R. 956 will help ensure that the threat of product liability litigation will not hurt patients who need access to implanted medical devices. H.R. 956 will prohibit claims against biomaterials supplier unless the company acted irresponsibly and its mistake actually caused the harm.”