KY: Med Mal Panels Forming

Back in March, I reported that a med mal review panel bill had passed the legislature in Kentucky.  The bill was signed by the governor and goes into effect on June 29.  The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is accepting applications from attorneys interested in participating in those panels; fifty attorneys have already expressed interest.  

Panels will have nine months to review cases and render an opinion, with the results admissible in court, but not binding. They can render one of three opinions:

 A medical provider violated standard of care and that action was the proximate cause of injury.

 The provider violated standard of care, but it was not the proximate cause of injury.

 Standard of care was not violated.

Kentucky New Era has the story.  The panels will add further delay to the resolution of med mal cases, which are already too slow (averaging 4-5 years from event to resolution).