Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Medical Malpractice Bill
On Friday, Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle vetoed the state legislature's attempt to cap non-economic damages in medical malpractice actions. The bill is very similar to the one passed in Illinois only months ago.
Earlier this year the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the state’s medical malpractice bill enacted in 1995. The court found that the law created two classes of victims: people with less severe injuries who cold get full compensation, and people hurt more severely who could not. The unconstitutional bill capped non-economic damages at $350,000, which was adjusted annually for inflation.
Governor Doyle stated, "approving a law that would quickly be overturned doesn't do anyone any good."
The fact that the law would do little to curb skyrocketing malpractice insurance premiums supports Governor Doyle’s decision also.
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Your governor deserves the common sense award for 2005. How can anyone feel it is fair to balance the books by depriving a quadriplegic with a perfectly valid claim of most of his damages?