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Q: John Kerry on the HEALTH Act of 2003 ( No Answer,   2 Comments )
Question  
Subject: John Kerry on the HEALTH Act of 2003
Category: Health
Asked by: evilolive-ga
List Price: $20.00
Posted: 27 Oct 2004 10:15 PDT
Expires: 28 Oct 2004 06:18 PDT
Question ID: 420787
Republicans claim that the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost,
Timely Healthcare Act of 2003 [or HEALTH Act] would encourage
manufacturers to produce viable vaccines and is critical to the
industry as it saves manufacturers considerable money in an industry
with minimal profit margins.  Now I understand the bill to be a step
towards medical tort reform but Democrats along with Kerry opposed
this because they generally don't believe that a cap on pain and
suffering awards would keep doctors' insurance rates in check.  So my
question is, was this bill ever passed and why would Kerry be
justified in opposing it?  Sounds like he was standing up for
patients' rights by not allowing a cap on malpractice suits.  It is so
hard to find straight answers this close to the election as the news,
tv commercials, and internet are loaded with opinions and spin.

Clarification of Question by evilolive-ga on 27 Oct 2004 10:17 PDT
I'm anti-Bush, please don't answer this question if you're going to
take a Republican slant to it.  However, a Democrat bias is more than
welcome.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: John Kerry on the HEALTH Act of 2003
From: pinkfreud-ga on 27 Oct 2004 10:22 PDT
 
Kerry's running-mate John Edwards made his fortune by suing
physicians. Surely Kerry would not want to take a position which would
make his Veep look like a money-grubbing hustler.
Subject: Re: John Kerry on the HEALTH Act of 2003
From: jack_of_few_trades-ga on 27 Oct 2004 10:49 PDT
 
Edwards said the Senate also must make sure that legislation stops
frivolous lawsuits, not serious cases, by requiring that lawyers fully
investigate their cases before filing them.

Lawmakers also must "address the handful of bad doctors who are
responsible for a majority of malpractice cases," Edwards added."

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2003/02/24/gvl10224.htm

Edwards made the case that capping lawsuits isn't the measure needed,
but rather put restraints on the insurance agencies, investigate
doctors, and put new demands on lawyers (to help weed out frivilous
lawsuits).

This is another democrat type argument:
'"There is absolutely no reason for the most seriously injured and
most vulnerable patients to be penalized to subsidize the insurance
industry," ATLA spokesman Carlton Carl said of the HEALTH Act. "The
legislation would have no impact on malpractice insurance rates paid
by doctors."'

That's about as democratic an argument that I can find.  But I must
say, their arguments don't seem to benefit or represent the American
people:

'A recent Gallup Organization poll found that the majority of
Americans recognize that there is a medical liability insurance
problem and support tort reform. According to the poll:

72% favor a limit on what patients can be awarded for pain and suffering. 
57% say patients bring too many lawsuits against doctors. 
64% say the issue of medical liability insurance is a crisis or major problem. "

""We believe that one essential step to lower medical malpractice
premiums is to directly address the market behavior of the companies
issuing malpractice policies," they wrote.'

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