Ill. Docs, Gov. Split Over Med Mal Reform

By Michael Ha

NU Online News Service, March 3, 10:55 a.m. EST?A doctors' demonstration at the Illinois State House in Springfield last week, seeking malpractice damage limits and protesting high insurance costs, appeared to have little impact with Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Reacting to the physicians' action, Tom Schafer, a spokesperson for Mr. Blagojevich, said, "The governor is not interested in changes that deal strictly with tort reforms, but he is interested in holding insurance companies accountable."

Wednesday's rally of more than 400 physicians saw some doctors holding signs that read, "Have your lawyers deliver the babies." The group called for tort reforms that would include caps on non-economic damages.

Gov. Blagojevich said he would rather see increased regulation of insurance companies to control the rising medical malpractice premiums.

Mr. Schafer told National Underwriter that the governor would also like to see "insurance companies do something to reduce rates."

At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Blagojevich said if tort reform is categorized as putting caps and limits on the ability of juries to make decisions, "I have consistently opposed that and I will do that now. Every single case is different, every fact pattern is different and every injury is different."

Gov. Blagojevich added that if the reforms are about making the insurance companies more accountable, "I'm eager to look at that and work with all the interested parties to see what we can do to help."

But Dr. Thomas Pliura, a physician in LeRoy, Ill., who was the sole organizer of last week's rally, said he is taking steps to promote caps on non-economic damages.

Dr. Pliura said he proposed to doctors at the rally that they ask patients to sign voluntary contracts before they are treated that would limit the money they would recover when physicians make mistakes.

"It's a proposal that could give some immediate relief to physicians. I haven't heard a thing from state lawmakers, and Illinois doctors can't wait for them," he said.

He added that the rally went well, but that this is just a first step for Illinois doctors. "It is very clear that there is tremendous support for this endeavor. Some doctors drove three or four hours to get to the rally," he said.

Special Reports /

Ill. Docs, Gov. Split Over Med Mal Reform

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