News from Senator Peter Roskam Senate Republican Whip
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		Wheaton, Illinois 60187	Springfield, Illinois 62706
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	For Immediate Release
	Date:  Aug. 25, 2005/tia

Long-awaited Medical Malpractice reform becomes law

Springfield, IL – After more than two years of debates and public hearings, Illinois finally has a new medical malpractice reform law to reverse the trend of doctors leaving the state, according to State Senator Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton).

Signed into law today, Senate Bill 475 implements a number of medical, insurance and legal reforms, and caps non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits at $500,000 for doctors and $1 million for hospitals.

“This new law enacts some real reforms that given a chance to work could not only help keep doctors in Illinois, but also attract new physicians to the state,” Roskam said. “As with any legislative measure, this new law could be better. But given the divisive nature of the issue, the new law represents the best compromise I believe we could get. It is a good compromise and one that will ultimately help to keep doctors in Illinois.”

Other provisions of the agreement will:

• Raise the standards that medical malpractice suits must meet before moving forward, as a means of preventing frivolous lawsuits;
• Allow doctors to apologize to patients without those statements being used against them legally;
• Enhance competition in the medical malpractice insurance market;
• Increase the number of medical investigators and coordinators;
• Create a Web site where patients can find out information on Illinois physicians and any medical malpractice lawsuits that have been filed against them.

Senator Roskam says he expects this new law will be challenged in the courts, which may delay its beneficial results.

Senate Bill 475 has been signed into law and takes effect immediately.

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