I can’t believe I am actually writing these words, but it is true.  The state of medical malpractice law in New York could be worse.

Living in a state where the parents of a dead child are told their case has little monetary value, breast cancer victims whose doctors failed to detect the cancer on routine mammograms are kept out of court, and exorbitant costs make bringing a lawsuit nearly impossible in all but the most serious medical malpractice cases, I often vacillate between feeling distraught because the odds are stacked so unfairly against my clients and exhilarated because I am in a position to do something about it.  Being a medical malpractice plaintiff’s lawyer is not an easy job, but today I was reminded it could be a lot harder.

If I lived in Texas.

An article in the New York Times from January 25, 2013, details the medical malpractice laws in Texas and one woman’s ongoing fight for justice.  Although some of you reading this may favor tort reform and view it as a partial cure of our current societal and economic ills, keep in mind that this woman could be you, your mom, your sister, or your daughter one day.  In a nation with increasing access and reliance on medical services, we need to insure those services are provided safely.  That is why I come to work and do what I do every day.  And it is why I don’t plan to head to Texas anytime soon.

Thanks for reading,