Who Needs Tort Reform When You Have a Functioning Court System?

Proving once more that no tort reform is necessary in Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of PA announced yesterday that medical malpractice cases are down 40.8% statewide, and down over 50% in Philadelphia County.

Med mal cases have been on a steady decline since 2003 when a rule change required a medical expert certify all malpractice cases to ensure that there was a deviation from the standard of care. The rule change also required cases to be heard in the same county where the alleged harm occurred, which eliminated so-called “venue shopping.”

In a release, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille said, “The latest statistics provide additional evidence that the sharp drop in medical malpractice litigation, which began in 2003, was not a temporary correction, but a sustained response to the procedural rule changes adopted by the Supreme Court and the statutory changes enacted by the General Assembly.” He went on to say that “Ongoing review and enhancements to our procedures will ensure that both plaintiffs and defendants can rely on an accessible court system where professional liability actions are impartially and promptly resolved.

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