FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 17, 2009
Contact: Mark Szymanski
202-463-5874

U.S. Chamber: Medical Liability Reform Must Have Teeth to be Effective

Statement of Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, on the Obama Administration’s announcement of state grants for experiments with alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits:

“While we are encouraged that the Obama Administration has made medical liability reform part of their overall health care package, the $25 million state grant program announced today amounts to about 1-40,000th of one percent of the cost of a one trillion dollar health care bill.

“Studies have shown that meaningful medical malpractice reform can save from $120 billion to as much as $500 billion over a decade. But a small medical liability grant program will not be effective, and will preserve the status quo when it comes to medical malpractice lawsuits.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.