[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 9 (Monday, March 1, 2004)]
[Page 278]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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, 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.