A new physicians' organization announced its formation solely to push a medical liability reform bill through Congress and said it will begin a print and television advertising campaign Wednesday.
Doctors for Medical Liability Reform (DMLR) based in Washington, D.C., arose from the failure of the Senate last year to pass a bill -- already cleared by the House -- that would establish a $250,000 limit on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The group said it is separate from the American Medical Association and has 230,000 doctors as members. The print ads will run in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Washington Post. Television spots will run in North Carolina and Washington state, highlighting what the group called a malpractice crisis in those states.