WILKES-BARRE, PA —State Sen. Lisa Baker is urging a delay in court rules that she says could negatively impact medical liability cases in the state.

The Civil Procedural Rules Committee is planning to propose an amendment to rules regarding where medical professional liability actions can take place, limiting it to the county in which an incendent occured, among other changes. Baker, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote a public comment in response to what she is calling a possible crisis.

“A major contributor to Pennsylvania’s improved economic condition has been the series of reforms enacted in the early 2000s to address the medical malpractice crisis. After years of political confrontation over powers and responsibilities, these reforms came about through extensive negotiations between the three branches of state government,” she wrote. “Act 13 of  2002 created the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission on Venue, which developed the crucial rule that helped abate the crisis.”

“By reining in the costs of excessive litigation and out-of-line awards, Pennsylvania was able to stabilize insurance rates and stem the loss of medical practitioners and facilities.”

Baker said prior to 2002, Philadelphia held more medical malpractice trials than any other city in the country, which lead to a loss of medical professionals in the region and the state. That prompted the formation of a coalition to reverse the downward slide.

That effort was ultimately successful, according to Baker who now fears the rule changes that have been proposed could undo that success.

“This proposed rule needs to be suspended for a fuller examination of its implications, for medical care and for the overall economy. We need to have a reputable entity such as the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee do an economic analysis of the expected impact of the promulgation,” she said, adding that this action would provide time for the medical community to weigh in.

She went on to say that she doesn’t understand why—without any push from the public or lawmakers—this rule is now being readjusted.

“From the vantage point of my Senate district, this reversion of the rules compounds the already considerable challenges we confront in providing accessible and affordable health care in small communities and rural areas.”