Obama and Tort Reform
Perhaps President Obama's speech gave to much hope to tort reform advocates thinking his mind was open to medical malpractice caps. President Obama said on 60 Minutes on Sunday that there was no evidence that malpractice caps would make a meaningful difference in the costs of health care.
"What I would be willing to do is to consider any ideas out there that would actually work in terms of reducing costs, improving the quality of patient care. So far the evidence I've seen is that caps will not do that."
But President Obama chooses his words very carefully. "So far the evidence" is the "I don't want to lose the left but I have to keep every option open because Fox News keeps telling me my presidency rides on health care" qualifier that underscores the point I made on the night of the speech: President Obama is keep his options open on health care tort reform.
Medical malpractice lawyers - particularly malpractice lawyers in states like Maryland and Texas that have seen the impact of medical malpractice caps on their clients ability to get a recovery are parsing every word of president Obama on tort reform.
- The Theory That President Obama Will Flip on Medical Malpractice Tort Reform (and why I don't believe President Obama will alter his position)
- Anticipation of First Obama Tort Reform Speech (June 11, 2009 post)
- Post Obama's Malpractice Tort Reform Speech in June (I breathe a sigh of relief when he says no medical malpractice caps)
- President Obama's Views as an Illinois Senator (insight into where President Obama may be on tort reform and, specifically, caps in medical malpractice cases)
