[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.