Illinois Gov. Urged To Veto Med-Mal Bill

Trial lawyers are mounting a campaign to get Illinois Gov. RodBlagojevich to veto the medical malpractice reform setting limitson awards for pain and suffering that the legislature passed latelast month.

Dr. Craig Backs, president of the Illinois State MedicalSociety, said, "We knew opponents of reform would make every effortto try and stop it, at the legislature, at the governor's desk orin the courts, so this does not surprise us."

Dr. Backs said he has no reason to doubt that Gov. Blagojevichwill soon sign the bill as he promised.

"He said that despite his own personal feelings about it he willsign it because it is what the people want," Dr. Backs said.

The governor "is not making an extraordinary effort to sign itquickly, but we also understand that he has not even received thebill," Dr. Backs said.

The legislative leadership has 30 days to certify the bill,which was passed in the last weekend in May, and the governor thenhas 60 days to sign the bill.

While the bill contains caps of $500,000 on non-economic damagesthat the insurance industry had sought, it also contained stricterregulatory measures that representatives believe will make itdifficult to attract new writers to the state.

In a letter to the governor dated earlier this month, KeithHebeisen, president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association,reminded him of his long time opposition to caps on non-economicdamages. "All we are asking you is that you follow through on yourcommitment. If a member of your family was injured or killed bymedical negligence would you want members of the General Assemblydetermining the value of their life or injury?" he asked.

Meanwhile, supporters of the bill are bracing for an IllinoisSupreme Court challenge. Rob Carney, director of legislativeaffairs for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce said he is confidentthe law will be upheld by the state's highest court.