Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, lawsuit abuse drives doctors out of their practices. There's a well-documented record of doctors leaving the practice of medicine and of hospitals shutting down, particularly practices that have high liability exposure. This problem has been particularly acute in the fields of OB/GYN and trauma care as well as in rural areas. The absence of doctors in vital practice areas is, at best, an inconvenience; at worst, it can have deadly consequences. Hundreds or even thousands of patients may die annually due to a lack of doctors. According to one State study, 38 percent of physicians have reduced the number of higher-risk procedures they provide, and 28 percent have reduced the number of higher-risk patients they serve, all out of fear of liability. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has concluded that: The current legal environment continues to deprive women of all ages, especially pregnant women, of their most educated and experienced women's health care providers. A study from Northwestern University School of Medicine polled residents and found that many wished to leave the State to avoid its hostile malpractice environment. The study concluded that: Approximately one-half of graduating Illinois residents and fellows are leaving the State to practice. The medical malpractice liability environment is a major consideration for those that plan to leave Illinois to practice.…”