MICRA Victim - Steven Olsen

Approximately 98,000 Americans die every year because of medical errors.

In California, a law that hasn't changed since 1975 takes away the right of injured Californians to hold an incompetent doctor or negligent hospital accountable for medical errors.

California's "malpractice cap" limits compensation for pain and suffering because of medical negligence to $250,000. This cap on compensation for injured Californians hasn't been adjusted for inflation since 1975. It would be more than $900,000 in today's dollars.

Put that in perspective: The minimum wage would be $2.10 an hour if it hadn't changed since 1975.

The cap never changes, no matter how severely you are injured, if you lose your sight, your fertility, or even your child.

Because of the cap, people who are injured - and don't make a lot of money - can't find attorneys in California. The cost to prepare and try a case for retired seniors, women who don't work, children or low-income Californians is often more than the case is worth. Without an attorney, health care providers aren't held accountable for hurting people with medical mistakes, neglect and abuse.

This and many other videos are part of the site JusticeForPatients.org. JFP is an attempt to illustrate the human cost of this out-moded and arbitrary cap on a victim's financial compensation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• MICRA
• malpractice
• patient
• California
• victim

[FindingKC]

The cost of malpractice insurance and payouts are less than 1% of the overall profits of the medical industry. Very few people win lawsuits and when they do, the judgment is lowered to practically nothing. Doctors have little motivation to do the right thing because they are protected by the legal system as well as their own cronies. Everyone else in society is responsible for their mistakes, everyone but doctors.

[sofad15]

We should focus not on blaming doctors, but on better communication of doctors - realizing they've made a mistake, and let other doctors learn from it.

[scottolsen]

Sorry Moabnut, but you know nothing about Malpractice except what's been fed to you by the insurance industry. Look up the total cost of all malpractice in relation to the total cost of medicine The cap in California is simply not fair--it hasn't been adjusted since 1975.

[moabnut]

I sympathize, but this video is nothing but propaganda by lawyers to increase their cut in a California lawsuit. Good doctors are quitting because of lawsuits, forcing patients to have to travel long distances to see specialists or to even have a baby. Many more people DIE due to lack of care than from poor care. The cost of malpractice is HUGE for physicians and patients. This video is not about this unfortunate kid, its about money for the lawyers (1/3 cut of the $)