Occassionally, I really like a law.
And one was proposed and passed in this year’s General Assembly term that I really like.
HB 2229: Health professionals; competency assessments.
Changes requirements for physicians who have had 3 medical malpractice judgments or claims in ten years such that it only affects practicing physicians. Bill also changed the trigger amount from $10,000 to $75,000.
Ok, what does that mean?
Doctors have to report to the state when they have been successfully sued 3 times for an amount over $10,000.
Now that will change. Only cases with a value of $75,000 or more will have to be reported, and only if the physician is still practicing.
I like this law for a few reasons.
1. $10,000 is way too low.
2. Often, if you are plaintiff #3 – meaning, the third case, even if you have a reasonable case that should settle, doctors don’t want to because of the 3 strikes rule. Now, if the MD has retired, they might not be as worried about the rule, and small cases, no longer count.
So, I like it. Well done Richmond. I think doctors will like it too.
And this means if you are the plaintiff on a case, and the third