Waco Tribune
September 28, 2013
Letters to the editor:
Ten years ago unbridled litigation against doctors and hospitals had turned entire regions of Texas into lawsuit war zones. Doctors limited the scope of their practices or shut their doors altogether — and patients lost access to needed care. Legislators and voters heard the pleas and responded with landmark legal reforms in Proposition 12.
Today, Texas is attracting a record number of new doctors, many of whom cite our legal climate as an important factor in their choice to practice here. Areas that suffered a lack of doctors — such as emergency rooms or obstetric offices — are attracting the physicians they need to care for local patients. Further, hospitals have reinvested the money saved from not having to defend egregious lawsuits. They’re upgrading equipment, expanding emergency rooms and increasing charity care.
Reform works. But even as we mark the 10th anniversary of these reforms, we must remain steadfast against any effort to roll back reforms or create new ways to sue in Texas.
Marcus Jahns, Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse
