[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.