Political Quotes

“physicians in Pennsylvania face skyrocketing liability insurance rates. This is forcing them to leave their practices, retire early, or stop performing certain procedures. That threatens access to care for patients in Pennsylvania and across this country. In my district alone, hospital services have been curtailed and advanced life support services have been terminated at an alarming rate. Without passage of medical liability reform at the Federal level, this situation will continue to worsen. From 1977 to 2000 the number of practicing OB/GYNs in southeastern Pennsylvania has declined by 20 percent, and that is before the astronomical increase in doctors' medical liability, doctor insurance rates that took place last year. In Pennsylvania more than 75 hospital services have been closed or curtailed in the past year alone. The most severely affected specialty services are obstetrics, orthopedics, general surgery and neurosurgery. Mr. Speaker, my constituents need real, meaningful medical liability reform and they need it now. We cannot allow the continuation of a system that is threatening and has in fact cut off patients' access to their doctor or hospital of choice. Let us put the patients above litigation and let us pass this bill.”