The following summarizes news coverage of developments related to medical malpractice in Illinois and Wyoming.

Illinois: The Illinois Legislature this week approved a medical malpractice reform bill (SB 475), the Chicago Sun-Times reports (McKinney/Fischer, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/31). The House on Monday voted 68-46 to approve the measure, and the Senate on Tuesday voted 36-22 to pass it (Wills, AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/31). The proposal would limit noneconomic damages to $500,000 in cases against physicians and $1 million in cases against hospitals. The measure also seeks to reduce frivolous lawsuits by requiring plaintiffs to obtain a report from a consulting physician attesting to the merit of claims. The proposal would create a Web site that would provide information to the public on physicians' backgrounds, including criminal convictions, malpractice awards and discipline. In addition, the measure includes a provision under which state regulators could reject a malpractice insurer's proposed rate increase if it is deemed excessive or unjustified (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/27). Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) received the bill on Tuesday and has said he will sign it (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 5/31). Both supporters and opponents of the bill say the issue is likely to end up before the state Supreme Court, which could delay its effect on malpractice insurance rates (Peoria Journal Star, 5/31).

Wyoming: More than 250 Wyoming physicians have expressed interest in serving on a state panel that would review medical malpractice cases before they go to trial, according to the Wyoming Board of Medicine, the AP/Billings Gazette reports. However, only 56 lawyers have expressed interest in the serving on the panel, according to the Wyoming State Bar. The panel, created by the state Legislature earlier this year, will include two physicians, two attorneys and one other member. Marcia Shanor, executive director of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, said a session at the group's upcoming convention in Cheyenne might increase the interest in the medical review panel (AP/Billings Gazette, 5/27).


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