If you haven’t heard the story about Dr. Yasser Awaad of Dearborn, Michigan, let me summarize it for you:
This neurologist took advantage of as many as 255 of his patients – maybe more – by diagnosing them with diseases they didn’t have and prescribing medication they didn’t need. Why? Apparently to cash in on large insurance payouts for the needless treatment. Not only was the treatment unnecessary, it was often harmful, as the side effects of the powerful medications ruined the lives of some of his patients.
Dr. Awaad denies any wrongdoing, saying he was just “exercising his professional judgment”. And if a package of bills currently being considered by the Michigan Senate Insurance Committee is ultimately passed, Dr. Awaad and those like him will never be held accountable for their actions.
Michigan Senate Bills 1110, 1115, 1116, 1117, and 1118 would essentially grant immunity doctors. Injured victims and their families would have no legal recourse in the vast majority of cases. In the few that could potentially be pursued, the amount of compensation that could be recovered would be so drastically limited that no one could financially justify bringing a claim or filing a case in court. In short, the voices of victims would be silenced. People would be completely denied their day in court for personal injury at the hands of others.
Then, the taxpayers (YOU), rather than wrongdoers, will be paying for the ongoing treatment of these injured people through Medicaid and Medicare.
Would you feel safe going to a hospital where an emergency room doctor can be negligent but not responsible for his or her actions? Would you be comfortable having a baby delivered by your OB doctor who can’t be held accountable for his or her mistakes?
Indeed, would you be comfortable doing ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, if the people in charge could not be held accountable if they harmed you or your family?
This is what is meant by “Tort Reform”. “Reform” literally means taking away or in some way limiting your rights to seek redress or recovery for the harms caused by another. It sometimes may sound like a good idea---until it happens to you. It is never as important, until it happens to you.
Remember:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
The laws of the United States, and each of the states, hold people accountable for their wrongdoing.
Just stop and think for a minute: If people could not be held accountable and liable for their wrongdoing in causing personal injury to you, what type of country/world would we live in? It would be complete anarchy. It is a world that I cannot envision, and never want to.
If the proposed bills pass in Michigan, would you ever want to go there? What if something happens to you or a family member while there, and you need medical care? Is that a chance you want to take?
This is a very bad idea. The potential results are catastrophic for residents of Michigan.
Please feel free to comment.
