Contact me at markploftus@aol.com

The "medical malpractice" crisis has generated signficant press coverage in Illinois lately, particularly downstate. A Victims group, Familes and Victims United, is touting a program called "Sorry Works". This program is the brainchild of a Steve Kraman, M.D., formerly the Chief of Staff of a VA Hospital in Kentucky. The Sorry Works approach urges quick apologies to the families of victims of medical negligence and prompt out of court negotiations between the parties. Kramen swears that following the implementation of his system, there were only a handful of cases filed against the hospital over several years - well below the national average. Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that the insurers for doctors and hospitals would ever engage in meaningful negotiations without a lawsuit on file. They have nothing to lose when they aren't looking down the barrel of a lawsuit. They aren't paying their lawyers and don't have to worry about assembling a defense to put before a jury. I don't think the program would ever get off the ground in Illinois.

Not to be outdone, the doctors have their own grass roots movement. A group called SHIFT(Saving Healthcare and Industry For Tomorrow-how clever!)has gotten some press as well. They are having some fundraising event in Southern Illinois in May and the John Stossel, the annoying "Gimme a Break" guy on 20/20 is supposed to be the speaker. Gosh, how can I get my tickets?

Speaking of tort reformers, the Chicago Tribune, a frequent critic of trial lawyers, went out and hired some not long ago. Seem they are suing a former employee who left one of the many Tribune companies to join a much smaller rival. The suit says the employee gathered a bunch of advertising, circulation and budget data from the Tribune company before joing the other company. The Tribune alleges the former employee spent weeks "arming himself" with trade secrets before he jumped ship. And finally, the Tribune wants the employee to return any salary paid to him while he was "working for a competitor". So the Tribune remains resolute against lawyers and lawsuits - unless of course their interests are involved.