    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 9, 2003]
    [Pages 853-854]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Senate's Failure To Pass Medical Liability Reform
    Legislation
    July 9, 2003

        I am disappointed that the Senate has failed to pass medical
    liability reform legislation. The Nation's medical liability system is
    badly broken, and access to quality health care for Americans is
    endangered by frivolous and abusive lawsuits.
        The medical liability crisis is driving good doctors out of medicine
    and leaving patients in many communities without access to both basic
    and specialty medical services. The American people want and deserve
    access to doctors in their own communities, yet the number of physicians
    has decreased in States without reasonable litigation reforms. The
    liability crisis, particularly the use of defensive medicine, also
    imposes

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    substantial costs on the Federal Government and all Americans.
        This is a national problem that deserves a national solution. The
    House of Representatives has already acted. For the sake of all
    Americans, it is time for the Senate to pass meaningful medical reform
    liability legislation and get it to my desk.