Bill > H7646

This bill establishes a medical malpractice tribunal to review medical malpractice lawsuits before they can proceed to a superior court, with the aim of screening out cases that lack sufficient grounds. The tribunal will consist of a superior court justice, a licensed attorney, and a licensed healthcare provider, ideally from the same specialty as the defendant. This panel will review the plaintiff's evidence to determine if there's a legitimate question of liability or if the outcome was simply an unfortunate medical result, without resolving factual disputes or assessing damages. If the tribunal finds the case has merit, it moves forward normally; if not, the plaintiff can still proceed but must post a $6,000 bond for potential court costs, unless they can demonstrate indigence or undue hardship, and failure to post the bond will lead to dismissal without prejudice. The tribunal's finding can be used as evidence in the trial, and the act will take effect upon passage, applying to all medical malpractice actions filed on or after January 1, 2027.

Justice

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