Public Citizen Report: Texas Healthcare Worse After Med Mal Caps

Have the 2003 Texas medical malpractice reforms helped or hurt patients and the statewide healthcare system?

 

According to consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, the tort reforms that were supposed to attract new doctors to Texas and save everyone money have not accomplished either goal.

 

While many supporters of the medical malpractice reforms, which capped non-economic damages at $250,000, claim that the new laws have increased the number of practicing doctors, the Public Citizen report found that the number of doctors coming to Texas rose in the seven years leading up the reforms, but has since flatlined. At the same time, the report found that while hospitals are indeed saving millions of dollars that would have gone to the victims of Houston medical malpractice and their families, health care costs have gone up instead of down-and health care has become less accessible, especially for those without great coverage.

 

While we believe that medical malpractice law improvements and tort reforms are an important part of perfecting our legal system, we also hope that we continue to analyze whether or not certain reforms help the situation or make it less fair.

 

If you have been injured due to a doctor mistake or doctor error in Texas, it is important that you stand up for your rights. Contact the Dallas medical malpractice attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm to learn more about your case.