    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 31 (Monday, August 6, 2001)]
    [Page 1128]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks on the Patients' Bill of Rights

    August 1, 2001

        The President. Today I'm very pleased to announce that Congressman
    Norwood and I have reached an agreement on how to get a Patients' Bill
    of Rights out of the House of Representatives.
        Charlie started on this issue 6 years ago. He's worked diligently to
    protect Americans, patients, from wrongdoings. I appreciate so very much
    his spirit, because I share the same concerns. And now after long hard
    labors, we've reached an agreement on how to amend his bill, that will
    meet the principles that I outlined.
        When I first came to Washington, I gave--right after I came to
    Washington, I gave a speech that talked about the principles necessary
    for a Patients' Bill of Rights. In that speech, I wanted a bill--a bill
    that was good for patients, a bill that allowed for people to be able to
    air their grievances, a bill that did not encourage frivolous lawsuits.
        Charlie also shares the deep concern--I'll let him express his own
    concerns--but there's no question that he, himself, wanted to get a
    bill. He was practicing the art of what is possible. It's a spirit we
    need more of in Washington: people who come to this city with the intent
    of doing what's right, the intent of having accomplishment, the intent
    of not playing--you know, bickering over politics and getting
    intransigence because you don't get everything you want.
        And so after a lot of labor and a lot of hard work and a lot of
    discussion, we shook hands in the Oval Office, about 10 minutes ago. And
    Charlie is going to head up to the Hill. I've spoken to the Speaker. And
    he's going to take--we're going to work on the language of the agreed
    upon amendment. And it'll give the Members something positive to vote
    for.
        I want to thank Charlie Norwood for his hard work, for his--the
    southern gentlemen that he is--for his willingness to work with the
    White House. It's a good signal for a lot of folks in Capitol Hill.
        Now, Mr. Norwood.

    [At this point, Representative Charlie Norwood briefly discussed the
    agreement, saying it would protect patients by ensuring that people
    could choose their own doctor, that a patient who was harmed would have
    recourse in some type of court setting, and that there would be good,
    independent, external review.]

        The President. Get to work up there on the Hill, Charlie. Thank you
    very much. I appreciate--[inaudible]
        Thank you, all.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:40 p.m. in the James S. Brady Briefing
    Room at the White House.