Florida One Step Closer to Tighter Medical Malpractice Rules and Regulations
Jun 21, 2013
Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) June 20, 2013 – Medical malpractice laws may soon not be an issue. Looming large is a recent trend for corporations to buy physician’s practices.
“Although most of the states in the country are focusing on tightening medical malpractice laws, rules and regulations, Florida is giving the heads-up to a trending issue that may change the landscape of how medical care is delivered. Many small physicians’ offices are being snapped up by large corporations, effectively making the doctor an employee, and no longer an owner,” explained Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer, Tom Robenalt.
Physicians view this latest trend as being a risk; one that would wipe out the profession and they would prefer to concentrate on what to do individually and legislatively to stop the forward march of progress. In Florida, the passage of a bill that tightens medical malpractice laws even further is not causing so much as a ripple of discontent. All eyes are looking forward to what will happen in the future should doctors be assimilated by larger corporations.
“It’s interesting that Florida doctors are distracted by the notion they may be bought out of owning their practices and becoming part of a huge conglomerate, as that would not change their liability to be sued for medical errors — other than their employer would also be named in the lawsuit and they may subsequently lose their jobs. In short, the real issue, whether they choose to deal with it or not, and not just in Florida, is that tort reform does not effectively serve innocent medical malpractice plaintiffs, seriously injured or dead, as the result of a medical error. Chasing windmills is a red herring,” added Robenalt.
Those who make a living observing the medical profession have been saying for years that if it were not for medical malpractice lawyers leveling the playing field for plaintiffs, doctors would be running amok without having to take responsibility for their actions. Along came tort reform, almost making that bizarre idea a reality. Nowadays, plaintiffs have an uphill battle trying to get justice for their life-altering injuries. Where is it written that someone, who through no fault of their own, is suddenly responsible to pay for caring for themselves, because a doctor messed up? Is that justice? In a word, “No.”
It is time the states, various politicians and state medical associations got off the false pulpit of thrift for the medical care system and protection for the doctors making honest mistakes. They need to focus on what they would do if their lives were so gravely affected by a medical error that they could never walk, talk, breathe on their own or live the life they once had.
Things tend to look different when a person is experiencing a medical catastrophe personally. “Victims do not have voices. If it were not for medical malpractice lawyers, they would not get justice. We need to shine a light on this issue and stop trying to protect physicians and insurance companies,” Robenalt stated.
To learn more or to contact a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney, or visit http://www.mellinorobenalt.com.
Mellino Robenalt LLC
200 Public Sq., Suite 2900
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Call: (216) 241-1901
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