Urge U.S. Senators Smith and Wyden to Stand With Oregon Voters on Medical Negligence Protections
Update: Victory in the U.S. Senate
May 8th - For the seventh time since 2002, the Senate rejected anti-patient legislation that would have arbitrarily capped jury awards in cases of extreme medical negligence. Thanks to all Oregonians who called their Senators to ask them to stand with Oregon voters, who have twice in the last few years rejected caps in civil justice cases. Despite Oregon voters' consistent opposition, Oregon's two senators split on their vote. Sen. Ron Wyden, a consistent advocate for better patient safety protections, cast a no vote. Sen. Gordon Smith voted for the proposals, which were backed by insurance companies and HMOs.
Read on for the original call to action: May 2006: Congress to vote May 8th
As early as May 8th, the US Senate will vote on medical malpractice legislation that would dramatically restrict your ability to hold wrongdoers accountable. The effort is led by Majority Leader Bill Frist, who has a major financial stake in Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the country's largest for-profit HMO, and Sen. Rick Santorum. They are proposing to cap jury decisions in malpractice cases to $250,000. The cap Sen. Santorum supports is half the amount his wife sought in damages when she sued her chiropractor in 1999. The legislation, S.22, contains the cap and many other provisions that would drastically limit juries' ability to hold wrongdoers accountable and further weaken accountability of the powerful HMO and insurance lobby. S.23 would affect mothers and newborns. Please help fight this attack on our rights. Send a message to Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden.
Urge them to protect the health and safety of Americans, not corporate profits: People Over Profits - email action center.
At a time when so many people have been harmed due to preventable mistakes, Congress should be talking about protecting the health and safety of patients, rather than protecting the profits of negligent wrongdoers.
You can also contact Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden directly. Urge them to vote NO on S.22.
Please call NOW:
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(202) 224-5244
(503) 326-7525
U.S. Senator Gordon Smith
(202)224-3753
(503)326-3386
Remind our Senators that Oregon voters have twice defeated ballot measures (2000, 2004) that tried to limit jury decisions in civil justice cases. Ask our Senators to stand with Oregon voters and oppose this drastic federal legislation. Please let us know that you have taken this action.
Write info@oregonjuries.org and say "yes, I have contacted my Senators."
Thank you.
Oregon Insurance Loophole Makes Family Drive Costly
The legislature is considering a bill that would close an important loophole in auto insurance law (House Bill 3086). Please contact your state Representative and tell them the Family Exclusion law isn't fair and only helps Insurance companies save money, while hurting Oregonians. Tell them to vote Yes on House Bill 3086.
May 2007
Portland, OR - Oregon drivers could find their insurance policy doesn't provide the protection they paid for - if an accident involves and injures a family member.
The legislature is considering closing the "family exclusion" loophole that insurance companies use to reduce payments to family members of drivers. A family drive could be "relatively" costly thanks to loopholes in Oregon insurance law. Oregon currently allows insurance companies to limit coverage to the legal minimum for each injured family member of a driver - even if the driver had paid for greater protection.
Insurance companies say the "family exclusion" law is needed to prevent inflated damage claims, but critics say it can keep crash victims from getting the money they need for medical care. Tosha Mowry, from Bend OR, found that out first hand when an accident injured her during a family drive. Tosha was a passenger on a family drive when an accident injured her and ended her 6-month pregnancy. She says this law puts a huge number of Oregon consumers unknowingly at risk.
"When I got my coverage, nothing was ever said about this in any of the papers that I signed. Pretty much you're not getting what you pay for. I found out that Oregon law allows insurance companies to sell liability policies for $100,000 or more, and then only pay $25,000. My medical bills alone are over $45,000, and I have no way on my own to pay for those bills. That's unfair and it has made life extremely difficult for me and my family."
Please contact your state Representative and tell them the Family Exclusion law isn't fair and only helps Insurance companies save money, while hurting Oregonians. Tell them to vote Yes on House Bill 3086.
Don't know who your Legislators are or how to contact them?
Go to the Oregon State Legislature website and search by your zip code:
