Bill > H1412

This bill aims to enhance patient safety and medical error reporting in Massachusetts. It amends several laws to achieve the following key provisions: 1. Defines the offering of expert testimony in medical malpractice cases as the practice of medicine, subjecting experts to the state's medical licensing requirements. 2. Requires insurers or risk management organizations that provide coverage to physicians to report annually to the Betsy Lehman Center on the top categories of losses, claims, and actions for personal injuries caused by medical errors. The center will use this data to develop best practices to reduce errors and improve patient safety. 3. Modifies the laws on periodic payment of future damages in medical malpractice judgments, allowing courts to order such payments and requiring defendants to post security to ensure full payment. 4. Establishes that liability in medical malpractice cases is several, not joint, meaning each defendant is only liable for the portion of damages proportional to their fault. The overall goal of this bill is to enhance patient safety, promote transparency around medical errors, and reform the medical malpractice system in Massachusetts.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1412