Illinoisans’ access to health care hangs in the balance
The availability of health care in Illinois hangs in the balance of the legal system of Illinois. The Illinois State Supreme Court is currently reviewing Lebron vs. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and will rule on the constitutionality of the Medical Malpractice Reform Act of 2005. The decision will not be affected by letters, telephone calls, emails or Letters to the Editor.
If the law is overturned, we will revert to the state of affairs that existed in 2004, when our two counties had lost approximately 170 physicians through early retirement and relocation.
We lost not only obstetricians and neurosurgical services, but primary physicians, as well. A few physicians have moved to this area, but we still have a critical shortage.
Public awareness and judicial reforms have helped. However, if the Court overturns the law, there will again be no limits on non-economic awards, such as pain and suffering. The result will be: increased numbers of cases filed; out-of-court settlement of cases in which there was no neglect; increased risk for malpractice insurance companies; escalating malpractice premiums; decreased health care services available to people in Illinois; and adverse effects on the overall economy.
We cannot affect the Supreme Court’s ruling, but the public needs to know what the effect of this ruling will be. We hope that the scales of justice will balance in favor of the general welfare of the people of the State of Illinois, and not return us to the chaos of 2004.
Robert F. Hamilton M.D.
Godfrey
That is indeed a scary proposition, Dr Hamilton. I have family in rural Illinois who’ve been adversely effected by the loss of practitioners in that state. I’m wondering though if physicians and other health care providers might not be able to demand a certain degree of immunity from rampant litigation as part of a bargain for Obamacare?