By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-970318.mp3
Albany, NY – A bill before New York State Lawmakers that would block defendant hospitals from conducting informal interviews with doctors who treat malpractice claimants has ruffled the feathers of some "good-government" advocates. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
According to an article published in The New York Post, hospital officials contend the bill sponsored by Democratic Queens Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Republican Syracuse Senator John DeFrancisco -- both practicing trial lawyers -- would make it harder for hospitals to defend themselves and would increase the state's $1.6 billion malpractice-insurance bill by $80 million.
Lancman brands the newspaper's accounting as - quote - "completely manufactured - taken from a press release by the hospitals' association" - he says the bill wouldn't add anything to defending a medical malpractice case.
The bill passed out of the codes committee today - Lancman is expecting it will make it to the floor in the next week or so.
Calls to the Greater New York Hospital Association and the Healthcare Association of New York State were not returned.
Among other state leaders who moonlight as lawyers: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.
Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner says it is useful for constituents and voters to understand the extent of their elected representatives' "other financial interests" in order to determine whether particular bills that are being sponsored are chosen to serve the public interest -or- are aspects of self-interest.
Assemblyman Lancman says that he and Senator DeFrancisco believe their bill poses no conflict because they wouldn't gain personally from its passage.