With the bill lacking only the governor's signature, it's looking as though though Tennessee will soon see the first change in its medical malpractice law in decades. The bill, which is designed to make it harder to file frivolous malpractice claims, requires attorneys to have a qualified medical expert approve the case within 90 days of filing suit (or face fines). Also, doctors will get 60 days' notice before patients file any suit. While med mal reforms have been working their way through the state legislature for five years, this seems to be the first version which won the approval of both physicians and malpractice attorneys. Both feel that this approach will limit the number of cases currently flooding the system, observers say.
To learn more about the bill:
- read this article in The Tennessean
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