Dear Rep. / Sen.                                 :

Some members of the General Assembly believe the state should impose a cap on pain and suffering damages in 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,