CITIZENS AGAINST LAWSUIT ABUSE  BRINGS

"SICK OF LAWSUITS” CAMPAIGN TO SAN DIEGO

Press conference highlights healthcare crisis caused by excessive litigation

SAN DIEGO – As part of the “Sick of Lawsuits” statewide campaign, San Diego Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (SDCALA) held a press conference on Saturday March 12, 2005, to discuss how lawsuit abuse and the fear of litigation have impacted the way healthcare is delivered in America.  This campaign was designed to educate consumers and members of the media on how healthcare litigation is raising the costs for prescription drugs, health coverage and doctor visits, while also jeopardizing access to medical products and treatments.

““Lawsuit abuse is making us all sick,” said Andy Kotner, President of San Diego CALA.  “Whether it is hospitals and doctors closing their doors, denying access to new drugs or live-saving devices, or adding Americans to the roles of the uninsured, lawsuits are putting our healthcare system on life support.”

Kotner was joined by George Coles (Owner of Coles Carpets and CALA Board Member), Dr. Carol Young (President of the San Diego County Medical Society), Deborah Leighton (college student Vioxx user) and Connie Bailey (senior citizen activist).  Thousands of people where able to hear first hand how lawsuits are limiting access to healthcare, forcing Doctors to limit or close their practices and preventing life saving treatments and technology from reaching the market.

“Frivolous lawsuits cost us all in delayed and reduced access to healthcare,” stated Dr. Carol Young, President of the San Diego County Medical Society.  “Direct healthcare costs escalate as physicians increasingly practice defensive medicine, ordering more tests than would otherwise be necessary to protect themselves against the growing risk of lawsuit in the case of a missed or delayed diagnosis, no matter how unlikely that diagnosis.” 

To learn more about Sick of Lawsuits visit www.sickoflawsuits.org or www.sdcala.org.

San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is a non-profit, educational, grassroots organization composed of more than 8,500 small business and professional people, consumers and others dedicated to the reform of our civil justice system. If you would like to be added or deleted from this list, or to request a CALA action kit, please reply to:  Andy Kotner, San Diego County CALA, 1761 Hotel Circle South, #120, San Diego, CA  92120

(619) 295-6059.

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