New York City Michael Bloomberg recently called for the creation of special health courts for medical liability claims in a speech to the New York State Bar Association, according to a news release by Common Good, a nonpartisan legal reform coalition that has developed and championed the concept of these courts.
Health courts would include dedicated full-time judges to resolve healthcare disputes. The judges would make written rulings to provide guidance on proper standards of care, and these rulings would set precedents on which both patients and physicians could rely. Rulings could be appealed to a Medical Appellate Court.
As with similar administrative courts that exist in other areas of law, such as tax disputes and workers' compensation, there would be no juries.
President Barack Obama's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform also recently endorsed the creation of health courts.
Read the release on health courts.
Read more coverage on health courts:
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals
- President Considering Four GOP Proposals for Health Reform, Notes Broad Areas of Agreement
Health courts would include dedicated full-time judges to resolve healthcare disputes. The judges would make written rulings to provide guidance on proper standards of care, and these rulings would set precedents on which both patients and physicians could rely. Rulings could be appealed to a Medical Appellate Court.
As with similar administrative courts that exist in other areas of law, such as tax disputes and workers' compensation, there would be no juries.
President Barack Obama's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform also recently endorsed the creation of health courts.
Read the release on health courts.
Read more coverage on health courts:
- Federal Deficit Panel's Draft Report Includes Fee-Fix, Cuts for Hospitals
- President Considering Four GOP Proposals for Health Reform, Notes Broad Areas of Agreement