Patient's Bill of Rights

Talk in Congress is of passing a patient's bill of rights. I think most people would agree that one should have a right to an acceptable level of health care. The main question is of remedy afforded to the patient or their relatives when something goes wrong. Suing seems the logical option, but what about limits in awards.

If anyone thinks an HMO will be hurt by losing a large law suit, think again. They'll pass along the cost to their other HMO members in the form of a premium increases. The net effect will be more expensive medical insurance for all and some companies deciding to increase employee co-payments or eliminating health coverage altogether.

The only sensible approach is providing arbitration or limiting the jury awards to keep health care affordable to all.

7/27/01
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