Springfield…The decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn the limits on damage amounts for medical malpractice will have drastic negative effects on Illinois’ health care system, state Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) said on Thursday.

“We approved the legislation that created the medical malpractice caps in 2005 to put a stop to doctors fleeing the state to find cheaper medical malpractice insurance premiums,” said Mathias. “Since then, the caps have been extremely effective, helping to revitalize Illinois’ health care system by keeping talented doctors in Illinois.”

In 2005, the General Assembly approved Senate Bill 475 which limited non-economic damages in malpractice cases to $500,000 for physicians and $1 million for hospitals. Just two years later a Cook County judge ruled that these caps interfered with juries’ power to award appropriate damage awards for medical errors, and the issue was sent to the Supreme Court.

According to Mathias, at one point there were no neurosurgeons in the Will County area or in any community south of Springfield because these specialties could not afford to pay their skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums. Additionally, because doctors were fleeing, especially those in high risk specialties such as obstetrics, pregnant women in many areas of the state could not receive proper care.

“At a time when jobs are badly needed throughout the state, this ruling could severely hamper any hopes for a quick recovery,” said Mathias. “This ruling by the Supreme Court will have drastic negative effects on Illinois’ health care system, putting residents at risk. We, as lawmakers, must act quickly to prevent another health care crisis.”