Kentucky Bill Aimed at Revamping Medical Malpractice System Advances

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would alter the medical malpractice system even more. Last year, lawmakers revised the malpractice system by creating panels of medical providers to review claims before cases go to court. That legislation created a medical review panel comprised of three doctors who review medical malpractice cases before they can be filed in court. The law became effective in June 2017.

Senate bill 20 advanced by a Senate committee Wednesday would place caps on a plaintiff’s attorney’s fees in malpractice cases. It would prohibit expressions of sympathy from being used against a healthcare provider in malpractice claims.

Republican Sen. Ralph Alvarado says his bill would bring Kentucky’s system in line with malpractice laws in other states. Alvarado is a Winchester doctor.

Democratic Sen. Reginald Thomas opposed the bill. He says it’s designed to protect health-care providers and discourage lawyers from taking malpractice cases.