KY: Med Mal Review Panels Pass Both Houses

Both the House and Senate have passed a med mal review panel bill, and it is on its way to Governor Matt Bevin.  The gist:

 The proposed law would require plaintiffs to submit medical malpractice claims for review to an advisory panel that would review the case and determine whether it has merit or is frivolous before issuing a nonbinding opinion as to whether the case should proceed.

Trial judges would decide the admissibility of the panel’s finding.  

When our firm represented med mal plaintiffs in Virginia, a review panel law was in place.  We routinely declined to participate in the process.  When the results were provided to the jury our non-participation in the panel procedure was noted.  The panels are a waste of time.  A better way to reduce suspect lawsuits is to use a certificate of merit procedure.  It is not perfect, but it accomplishes the goal of reducing frivolous suits more directly, and without an impact on plaintiffs whose suits are meritorious.  Needless to say, it is far superior to caps for the same reason.  

The National Law Review has the story.