    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 13, 2003]
    [Pages 263-264]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Action on Health Care Legislation
    March 13, 2003

        America's medical liability system is badly broken. Frivolous and
    abusive lawsuits are driving up costs for patients, threatening access
    to quality health care,

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    and forcing good doctors to shut down clinics in communities across the
    Nation.
        We need a medical liability system that provides compensation for
    patients, not windfalls for trial lawyers. The direct and indirect costs
    of the liability crisis to the Federal Government is more than $28
    billion a year, adding to the costs of Medicare and Medicaid and hurting
    our efforts to help people get access to the medical care they need.
        Today's House vote is an important step toward creating a liability
    system that fairly compensates those who are truly harmed, punishes
    egregious misconduct without driving good doctors out of medicine, and
    improves access to quality, affordable health care by reducing health
    care costs.
        I also commend the House for passing legislation that improves
    patient safety by providing for better sharing of valuable medical
    expertise between health care professionals. Together, these two pieces
    of legislation will make the system work for patients.
        I urge the Senate to move quickly on legislation that will reform
    our medical liability system and reduce medical errors so that I can
    sign these important measures into law this year.