Tort Reform and Medical Liability

Speaking at South Austin Hospital, Gov. Rick Perry calls upon legislators to enact medical malpractice reforms. Joining the governor are Sen. Jane Nelson and (from right) doctors Steve Berkowitz, Donald Ward and Albert Gros. Rep. Jaime Capelo and Rep. Joe Nixon were also in attendance. Photo

Gov. Rick Perry has laid out a series of corrective measures to fix the medical lawsuit abuse crisis that is hurting doctors and hampering Texans' access to quality, affordable health care. Health care providers across the state have recounted troubling stories of malpractice insurance rates soaring as much as 400 percent in one year and of insurance carriers refusing to renew policies for some doctors – even those who have never had a malpractice claim filed against them.

The governor's plan includes a call for meaningful lawsuit reform for the health care profession that caps non-economic losses to plaintiffs at $250,000. More than 20 other states have capped non-economic damages, resulting in lower liability insurance rates. California, for example, limits non-economic damages to $250,000 and has the third lowest medical liability rates in the nation.

Information

• Gov. Perry: Historic Medical Liability Reform Helping Doctors, Patients (Op-Ed)
• Medical Liability Reform Fact Sheet
• Health care and medical malpractice reform are priority issues for Gov. Rick Perry.
• Special Message - January 23, 2003

Press Releases

• August 24, 2004 - Gov. Perry Says Medical Liability Reforms are Healing Healthcare in Texas
• October 8, 2003 - Gov. Perry: Historic Tort Reforms Will Fuel Economic Recovery, Job Creation
• June 11, 2003 - Gov. Perry Signs Medical Malpractice Reform Legislation
• June 3, 2003 - Perry: "We Did What We Set Out To Do"
• Mar. 6, 2003 - Gov. Rick Perry Stresses Need for Medical Malpractice Reform in Texas
• Jan. 24, 2003 - Gov. Perry Designates Emergency Issues for 78th Texas Legislature
• Dec. 18, 2002 - Gov. Perry Announces Medical Malpractice Reform To Be Emergency Issue In Legislative Session
• Sep. 24, 2003 - Gov. Perry: Tort Reform, Budget Restraint Leading to Economic Recovery in Texas
• Jun. 28, 2002 - Gov. Rick Perry Announces New Insurance Options for Texas Physicians
• May 8, 2002 - Gov. Perry Authorizes $200,000 To Assist Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
• Apr. 4, 2002 - Gov. Rick Perry Says Texas Must Address Medical Lawsuit Abuse Crisis

Radio Addresses

• August 24, 2004 - Tort Reform [2.19MB MP3] [Transcript]
• May 8, 2003 - Tort Reform [1.35MB MP3] [Transcript]
• March 6, 2003 - Medical Malpractice [1.3MB MP3] [Transcript]

Speeches

• August 24, 2004 - Text of Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks at Driscoll Children's Hospital
  

Sign-up to get Tort Reform and Medical Liability updates by e-mail