Efforts have been underway in California to help support the Fairness for Injured Patients Act. This act is intended to replace one that was passed back in 1975 regarding medical errors. This new endorsement was made after a patient died of a treatable medical condition, which three different treatment facilities ignored.
Higher compensation caps
In the 1975 law that currently rules the state, medical malpractice lawsuits are given a set cap limit. This limit is $250,000. Supporters of the new Fairness for Injured Patients Act state that this maximum amount is no longer high enough to accommodate patients and their loved ones for medical malpractice cases.
November 2022 ballot
This new act will be included on the November 2022 California voting ballot. It was introduced to the ballot by parents of children dealing with lifelong disabilities due to medical neglect. One supporting father has a son who has been disabled since he was 2 years old; his son is now 30 years old and still needs help. It’s the father’s hope that this new legislation will allow for more compensation for parents who are dealing with catastrophic disabilities due to medical malpractice.
Medical neglect is a leading cause of death
In the United States, medical neglect is the third leading cause of death. Over 400,000 people die each year due to medical errors. Many more end up suffering lifelong injuries and rely on family members to assist with day-to-day tasks. It’s thought by supporters behind this new proposed legislation that medical professionals will take more responsibility for patient care when they could be expected to pay a fair amount of money in compensation, not just the set cap. Only time will tell once the new ballot comes out.
