Skip to main content
HR 1468 111th Congress House Law Civil actions and liability Emergency medical services and trauma care Evidence and witnesses Health care quality Health facilities and institutions Health personnel Judicial procedure and administration Legal fees and court costs

Medical Justice Act of 2009

Introduced: March 12, 2009 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 12, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 12, 2009
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Justice Act of 2009 - Sets forth provisions regulating civil actions for an injury or death as the result of health care.

Sets forth limits on: (1) the non-economic damages that an individual may recover from health care practitioners and health care institutions; and (2) the total damages that a person may recover from any single liable health care practitioner.

Declares that an insurer of a health care practitioner or health care institution that rejects a reasonable settlement offer within policy limits is not, by reason of such rejection, liable for damages in excess of the liability of the insured.

Sets forth requirements for qualified expert reports.

Allows periodic or accrual payment for future damages.

Prohibits a jury from awarding punitive or exemplary damages against a health care practitioner or health care institution unless the jury is unanimous.

Makes each person liable only for a proportionate share of the total damages that directly corresponds to that person's responsibility.

Makes a person liable for litigation costs incurred after rejection of a settlement offer if such person receives a judgment at trial that is significantly less favorable than the terms of the settlement offer.

Sets forth a time frame within which claims related to any health care act or omission must be brought.

Makes a health care practitioner or health care institution that provides emergency health care on a Good Samaritan basis immune from liability for damages caused by that care, except for willful or wanton negligence or more culpable misconduct.

What's happening now March 12, 2009

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1