Dear Rep. / Sen.                                 :

The Bush Administration and some members of Congress say we should impose a cap on state medical malpractice cases, like the one that was part of the 1975 California medical malpractice tort "reform."

But malpractice premiums in California increased by 175% during the first 12 years following the enactment of its $250,000 non-economic damages cap. It was not until voters approved insurance reforms (Proposition 103) that the insurance industry's anti-trust exemption was removed and rates began to level off.

Instead of helping the insurance industry by taking away people's rights, we need to take away the insurance industry's anti-trust exemption and enact other insurance reforms, not tort "reforms." The insurance industry shouldn't have more rights than patients.

Sincerely,