Changes expected in Senate Liability legislation

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) indicated that the Senate would consider new medical liability legislation in the coming months. The medical liability bill would cap total noneconomic damages in malpractice lawsuits at $750,000 and would cap such damages at $250,000 per defendant. Previous bills that have not moved in the Senate would have capped total noneconomic damages in malpractice lawsuits at $250,000. The latest bill has been modeled after Texas law and it is hoped that Congress will pass the legislation – however Democratic leaders have already stated that they would oppose it.