    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [February 24, 2004]
    [Pages 264-265]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Senate Action To Block Medical Liability Reform
    February 24, 2004

        I am disappointed that a minority in the Senate has again decided to
    play politics and block our Nation's ability to accomplish medical
    liability reform.
        Today's vote is a blow to America's families, because pregnant women
    are losing access to their obstetricians and gynecologists due to
    frivolous and abusive lawsuits. Pregnant women who need prenatal and
    obstetric health care services deserve access to doctors in their own
    communities. Without the passage of reasonable reforms,

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    the Nation's badly broken medical liability system will continue to
    drive physicians like obstetricians and gynecologists out of the
    practice of medicine and drive up the costs of health care for all
    Americans. For the benefit of America's families and for the sake of our
    health care system, there needs to be medical liability reform this
    year.