The cap on medical malpractice awards

Re “Family seeks $45 million in King-Harbor death,” Nov. 6

A jury might think $45 million is fair and just compensation to the family of the woman who died while hospital personnel ignored her cries of pain for nearly an hour. But the judge will automatically reduce any possible verdict to $250,000 -- the most in noneconomic damages anyone can recover for any injury or death caused by a healthcare provider. The cap was passed at the behest of the insurance industry and medical establishment more than three decades ago. Because it has never been changed or adjusted -- even for inflation -- we may be reaching a point at which letting patients die is more cost-effective than treating them. The public needs to understand this. This article promotes the misconception that people who sue doctors end up rich. That isn’t possible in California.

Linda Fermoyle

Rice

Woodland Hills