    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 8, 2006]
    [Page 893]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Medical Liability Reform Legislation
    May 8, 2006

        I am disappointed that the Senate has yet again failed to pass real
    medical liability reform legislation. Unwilling to take on their trial
    lawyer supporters, the Democrats led this effort to block these much-
    needed reforms.
        Junk lawsuits are driving too many good doctors out of medicine.
    Women in nearly 1,500 counties are without a single ob-gyn, and
    frivolous and abusive lawsuits are encouraging the use of defensive
    medicine, which imposes substantial and unnecessary costs on all
    Americans.
        This is a national problem that deserves a national solution. I have
    called on Congress to pass responsible medical liability reforms, and
    the House of Representatives has acted. It is time for the Senate to put
    the needs of the American people ahead of the interests of trial lawyers
    and pass meaningful medical liability reform legislation.