A newly proposed bill (H.R. 1215 Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017) will make it more difficult for consumers to receive compensation for medical errors or abuse by caretakers or medical professionals. If approved, H.R. 1215 would result in federal control over what has been a state function and would apply to injuries caused by defective medical devices, dangerous pharmaceuticals, medical malpractice, sexual abuse by a medical professional, nursing home neglect or abuse.
H.R. 1215 would:
- Place a federal cap on medical malpractice and nursing home abuse lawsuits at $250,000
- Grant blanket immunity to health care providers who prescribe a device or drug that was approved by the FDA — even if that drug or device is later proven to be dangerous
- Impose a federal statute of limitations for most claims
If you would like to contact your Congressional member concerning H.R. 1215, you can do so by clicking on this link.
