Springfield . . . State Senator Kyle McCarter has signed on as a cosponsor to a state constitutional amendment that would undo a recent court ruling striking down Illinois’ medical malpractice lawsuit reforms.

“The proposal would put in place voter-approved constitutional limitations on the liability for non-economic damages in lawsuits, said McCarter (R-Lebanon).  “The Supreme Court ruling earlier this month striking down the bipartisan law passed in 2005 puts us in a terrible situation where we could start to lose our doctors again.”

In 2003 and 2004, dozens of doctors left Illinois because of skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance rates.  The situation triggered a grassroots movement across the state by patients demanding legislative action.  It took more than a year before reforms could be passed and signed into law and Senator McCarter believes that same kind of effort will be needed again.

“The people are going to have to stand up and tell their elected representatives that this issue has to be resolved now because losing their doctors is a serious matter and that could become a reality again,” said McCarter.  “They’ll have to put on those green “Save Our Doctors” arm bands again and speak up because their safety and health is in jeopardy.”

McCarter says the reform law which took effect in 2005 made a difference as many doctors stayed in Illinois but he’s concerned about a new doctor exodus.

“Medical malpractice insurance rates were running our doctors out of the state,” said McCarter.  “It used to be that if you had a head injury and lived in St. Clair County you might as well start looking for a helicopter ride to St. Louis because there was no one in the county that could take care of you; not one neurosurgeon.  It was a crisis then and it could become a crisis again so Senator Dave Luechtefeld and myself, and a number of other senators, are taking the steps necessary to protect the citizens.”

Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 103 would have to be adopted by both the Senate and House before May in order for it to meet certain election requirements to be placed on the ballot this November.  The proposal was introduced Feb. 18.