Why We Should Vote No on Prop 12

[gojack]

I think that TANHR has summed it up well below about why Texas residents (and especially all health care personnel) should oppose this Republican Party, insurance biz, and hospital/ nursing home chain sponsored legislation to outlaw your legal rights. Below is the TANHR message to Texas residents.

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Texas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents (TANHR), a non-profit, volunteer organization advocating improvement in the quality of life and care of Texas nursing home RESIDENTS.

TANHR is not associated with or funded by nursing homes or health care companies.

URGENT

VOTE NO on Proposition 12

September 13, 2003

Proposition 12 will appear on the ballot as follows: "The constitutional amendment concerning civil lawsuits against doctors and health care providers, and other actions, authorizing the legislature to determine limitations on non-economic damages"

These three words - and other actions--make Proposition 12 a threat to every person and community in Texas. If approved, Proposition 12 will allow the insurance industry lobbyists to increase rates, interfere with the Texas Constitution and force individuals to pay for the mistakes of irresponsible HMO's, nursing homes and hospitals.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

well said, vote No on 12

[lvn2004]

I voted no but I guess it makes no difference now.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

The Republicans got there way

[nekhismom]

so what exactly does this mean? Forgive my ignorance, I live in VA, but will be moving to TX very soon with any luck at all!

[mattsmom81]

This means there is now a cap on pain and suffering awards in malpractice cases.

Hospital administrators and institutions lobbied hard to get this law passed. Doctors had flyers sent out and posted in their offices to sway voters on this issue.

I'm fairly conservative AND ...I voted AGAINST this. Unfortunately I was in the minority it seems. This was a special interest bill, not a Republican bill necessarily.

As someone who has been injured by someone elses' negligence, I feel we should all have the right to hold another accountable. Without caps. But...the voters have spoken. They bought the propaganda.

Even though states with caps have NOT lowered malpractice rates, and this was a major argument by sponsors of the bill.