Noujaim Critiques Poor Medical Malpractice Bill
Legislation Passed By House Will Not Address Root Causes Of Sky-High Insurance Premiums

HARTFORD- State Representative Selim Noujaim (R-Waterbury) today expressed disappointment with a vote taken late Monday night by the House of Representatives that killed amendments putting caps on medical malpractice awards. The amendments would have put a $350,000 cap on pain and suffering awards pertaining to physicians and a $650,000 cap on awards pertaining to hospitals. There would have been no cap on economic damages.

“A unique opportunity has been lost,” said Representative Noujaim. “The outrageously high cost of medical malpractice insurance is driving talented doctors out of our state. The cap we sought to place on non-economic damages would have protected victims of malpractice and allowed them to recover any economic loss.” Noujaim noted that in extreme cases of negligence, the proposed caps could be tripled.

Many physicians and insurance companies have contended in recent months that the high cost of medical liability insurance was a direct result of the high volume of medical malpractice lawsuits. The amendments that the House voted on had been the result of a compromise that followed an initial proposed cap of $250,000.

Noujaim noted that the number of companies offering malpractice insurance has gone from 11 to 2. “As a businessman, I can tell you that the only reason this can happen is that there is no longer a profit in offering this kind of coverage,” said Representative Noujaim. “With an increase in rates, we lose doctors that practice in high-risk fields. That creates a medical crisis in this state. We have seen evidence and testimony that reflects time and again that without caps, relief from high premiums will not be possible.”

Noujaim voted no on the overall malpractice reform bill because it failed to include caps on awards. Governor John Rowland has pledged to veto any bill on medical malpractice that did not include the caps.