Medical Malpractice Survivors Once Again Request Meeting with President Bush

For Release:
April 18, 2005
Contact: Laurie Beacham
            212/267-2801      
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SURVIVORS ONCE AGAIN REQUEST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BUSH
Patients Repeatedly Ignored by White House
While Health Industry Snags Another Meeting
Thirty-onesurvivors of medical malpractice sent another letter today requesting a meeting with the White House. After being repeatedly turned down over the last two years, they are trying again after learning that White House senior policy advisors agreed to meet with supporters of Bush’s anti-patient medical malpractice bill on April 20.
The letter stated, “We represent the real people who would be affected by the legislation currently pending, legislation that would be devastating to families like ours and fail to solve doctors’ insurance problems. Don’t we at least deserve your ear?”
Patients from several states will be in Washington, D.C. on April 20, hoping for a meeting and to express dissatisfaction with how they have been treated by the White House and members of the health care industry. Interested members of the media should contact CJ&D for more information.
Herman Cole from Bridgeport, Connecticut, whose wife, Sadie, is in a persistent vegetative state as a result of medical malpractice said, “We have requested to meet with President Bush time and time again and we always get ignored. One time the White House called some of us to say there was no time to meet with us. But it seems there is always time to meet with doctors and insurance companies.”
“It is very upsetting that the President is proposing medical malpractice legislation without listening to the people that it will affect. Families like ours, who have had lives ruined and lost loved ones to medical negligence, would be absolutely devastated by the bill he is pushing. For anyone to inhibit justice in any measure from victims is immoral and strikes at the very essence of a civilized society," said Michael Bennett of Baltimore, Maryland.  Mr. Bennett’s father, Mark Bennett, died after being exposed to six types of bacteria while in the care of a Baltimore-area hospital.
President Bush’s legislation would severely reduce the rights of medical malpractice victims nationwide, as well as victims of dangerous prescription drugs and medical devices. The bill includes a $250,000 cap on non-economic compensation and limits the liability of not only malpracticing doctors, but also HMOs, hospitals, insurance companies, nursing homes, and drug and medical device manufacturers.
The text of the letter follows:
April 18, 2005
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Delivered by facsimile to 202-456-2461
Dear President Bush:
We understand that your senior policy staff has agreed to meet with a group of doctors and health care workers in Washington DC on April 20 to discuss medical malpractice legislation.  We learned this from the group’s web site.
As you know, we – innocent victims of medical malpractice – have requested to meet with you time and time again over the last several years, to no avail. A copy of our latest request, submitted as recently as April 7, is attached and remains unanswered.
We once again request that you take the time to hear from us. You have met with doctors and insurance representatives repeatedly. It is extremely disconcerting to us that you would make any policy decisions about such a critical issue without hearing all sides. We represent the real people who would be affected by the legislation currently pending, legislation that would be devastating to families like ours and fail to solve doctors’ insurance problems. Don’t we at least deserve your ear?
Last time we were in Washington D.C. and requested to meet with you, your scheduling office called a few of us on the day we were leaving and said your schedule didn’t allow for a meeting. Since we know your staff has already slated some time to meet with some doctors on April 20, 2005, we would be happy to join that meeting. In the alternative, as we said in our April 7 letter, we are available to meet with you or your staff at any time.
We look forward to hearing from you to schedule a meeting as soon as possible. Please contact Laurie Beacham at             212-267-2801       or [email protected] to let us know your availability. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Michael Bennett
Baltimore, MD
Robert W. Bennett
Staten Island, NY
Kim & Ryan Bliss
Melbourne, FL
Theresa Booth & Michael Bridwell
Pendleton, OR
Earlene Burney
Clarksville, TN
Herman Cole
Bridgeport, CT
Ilene Corina
Wantagh, NY
Ken & Cyndi Duplechain
Mamou, LA
Mark & Michelle Geyer
Antioch, CA
Lisa & Mike Gourley
Valley, NE
Helen W. Haskell
Columbia, SC
Sherry Keller
Conyers, GA
Myrleen J. Kelly
Orem, UT
Amy Kyllonen
Prior Lake, MN
Leslie Lewis
New York, NY
Dylan Malone
Everett, WA
Justin Mattes
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Taylor's Dad, John J. McCormack
Pembroke, MA
Kristy McCown
Fairbury, NE
Dianne & Ronald Meyer
Las Vegas, NV
LaRee Miller
Salt Lake City, UT
Lisa Muscarella
Flagstaff, AZ
Kathy & Scott Olsen
Chula Vista, CA
Martha Parker
Clarksville, TN
Evelyn Irvin Plunkett
Lansing, MI
Alisha Anne Roddy
Ogden, UT
Camille Teichman, mother of Michelle Teichman, injured at birth
Seaford, NY
Jennifer Tinsman & Kody Garhart
Westminster, CO
Mark Unger
Eagle Point, OR
Regina L. Wagner
Sarasota, FL
Anna T. Walker
Annapolis, MD