Americans overwhelmingly support meaningful medical liability reform: HCLA poll

Americans overwhelmingly support meaningful medical liability reform and agree that changes to our nation's broken medical liability system should be included in health care reform legislation passed by the Congress, according to a new poll released today by the Health Coalition on Liability and Access.

"The HCLA poll clearly shows that the American people want medical liability reform," said HCLA Chair Mike Stinson. "People across the country understand that the current system threatens their access to quality medical care and drives up health care costs for everyone."

"If Congress truly wants to reform our health care system, Senators and Representatives must answer to their constituents and include comprehensive medical liability reform to make the system more accessible and affordable for all patients," Stinson said.

A National Quorum poll of 1,009 adults was conducted in October 2009. According to the poll, 62% of those surveyed responded that they want their elected representatives in Washington to support national comprehensive medical liability reform legislation, and 69% believe that these liability reforms should be included in any health care reform legislation passed by Congress.

Further, 72% of survey respondents were concerned that a lack of doctors might impact the availability and quality of the care they receive. Seventy percent support a law that guarantees full payment for lost wages and medical expenses, but places reasonable limits on non-economic damage awards. And 68% favor a law that limits fees for personal injury lawyers.