    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [July 9, 2001]
    [Page 835]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 835]]

    Remarks at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and an Exchange With Reporters in
    Fairfax, Virginia
    July 9, 2001

    Patients' Bill of Rights

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Knox, thank you very much for setting up the meeting with Knox
    and hospital officials, nurses, former patients. We had a great
    discussion about the need for our Nation to pass legislation with
    America's patients in mind, that the whole core of a good bill
    recognizes that patients ought to have direct access to specialists,
    such as Dr. Berry, an ob-gyn, cancer
    specialists, that patients ought to have the capacity to take complaints
    to an independent review organization staffed by doctors and medical
    professionals.
        We're making good progress. There is a lot of agreement on a bill
    that has--bills moving their way through the House of Representatives
    right now. But I want a bill to sign that does not run the cost of
    premiums up or health care up as a result of excessive lawsuits. I want
    a bill that honors patients, not trial lawyers, a bill that makes it
    easier for docs to do their job, as opposed to a bill that encourage
    excessive litigation.
        I want to again thank you for the chance to visit.
        Dr. Berry, you might want to say a few
    things.

    [At this point, Dr. David B. Berry made brief
    remarks.]

        The President. Okay, thank you all.
        Q. Mr. President, any decisions on stem cell----
        Q. What did you hear from the patients----
        Q. What did the patients----
        The President. The patients just want to make sure they've got
    access to specialists, and they, too, like the idea of having an
    independent review organization where they can take their complaints,
    where they can solve problems before it ends up in a court of law.
        There are some people up there on the Hill that are interested in
    fostering excessive litigation, which is not good for patients. I think
    Americans understand that.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:18 p.m. in the boardroom following
    discussions in the hospital. In his remarks, he referred to J. Knox
    Singleton, chief executive officer, Inova Health System. A tape was not
    available for verification of the content of these remarks.