Lucas,
Patients' rights are not a bargaining chip.
But some politicians eager to curry favor with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the insurance industry seem to think otherwise.
They're pushing an overreaching bill that would deny patients access to legal remedies when they are injured or killed as a result of negligent care.
The bill -- H.R. 5 -- would give immunity to negligent doctors and shield nursing home operators, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals from taking responsibility when their defective products or services hurt people.
Defend your rights. Tell your member of Congress to vote "No" on H.R. 5.
Proponents claim this measure is all about cutting costs -- a claim that the empirical research disproves. (1)
Under H.R. 5, the negligent players in the health industry would be made immune from wrongdoing. The costs of medical mistakes would shift to injured patients, their families and taxpayer-funded health and disability programs.
Reform is essential, but not like this.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are killed or seriously injured each year because of preventable medical errors.
Congress should focus on improving patient safety and reducing deaths and injuries. H.R. 5 does neither. Urge your member of Congress to oppose H.R. 5.
Go to: www.citizen.org/stand-up-for-patients-rights
Thanks for all you do,
Rick Claypool
Public Citizen's Online Action Team
action@citizen.org
1. Public Citizen report, "Liability Limits in Texas Fail to Curb Medical Costs." December 17, 2009.
www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2860