President Obama is in the midst of tacking health care issues, but he has also verbally pledged to "deal with" medical malpractice claims.  Obama does not share the Republican plan to limit medical practice claims by capping damages.  Instead, President Obama wants to fund programs that encourage negligent doctors to deal with a mistake by acknowledging it, apologizing, and compensating if necessary.  No one is sure what "compensating" means by the way, as hospitals who employ negligent doctors would have discretion on what 'fair compensation' actually is...similar to a insurance claims adjuster.  However, Missouri Medical Malpractice Lawyers should agree with the President's opinion that "capping medical malpractice claims is an unfair to people who have been wrongfully harmed."

I Missouri, medical malpractice claims have been capped by the legislature.  The maximum any one claimant can receive for non-economic damages is $350,000.  This means that no matter how bad the injury victim suffered, the max available to compensate that pain and suffering is $350,000.  There is no cap on non-economic damages, which include hospital bills associated with recovery or treatment for the harmed caused by a negligent doctor. 

The American Medical Association was reserved in its response to Obama's opinion on curbing medical malpractice claims, but one would assume it would please the association.  It is disheartening for the victim of medical malpractice to learn of more intent to thwart meritorious lawsuits.  The fact of the matter is, medical malpractice CLAIMS are at an all-time low, as are medical malpractice insurance RATES.  It seems unfair and unconstitutional to move towards any more medical malpractice tort "reform", as it appears that people with legitamite Missouri medical malpractice claims are choosing not to file them due to the reform already in place.