Editorial: Legislature nearing its moment of truth

Friday, July 19, 2002 | 3:47 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: July 21, 2002

Politicians hate offending powerful interest groups, so in instances of conflict they almost always tell the warring parties to settle it themselves and bring back a compromise that can be rubber-stamped into law. But now that a nine-member panel of lawyers, doctors and insurers has failed to arrive at a compromise to solve the crisis associated with medical malpractice insurance, Gov. Kenny Guinn and the Legislature can't pass the buck. Guinn had hoped the panel would offer up a compromise that legislators could vote up or down during a special session beginning July 29. Instead, the elected officials will be on their own.

This is their moment and we are looking for them to lead this state out of the crisis that threatens the ready availability of health care. The doctors are folding their arms against any legislation that does not exactly duplicate reforms adopted by California 25 years ago, which include a cap of $250,000 on jury awards for non-economic damages in malpractice lawsuits. Trial lawyers are folding their arms, too, saying that tort reform will simply increase the profits of insurance companies but do nothing to reduce malpractice premiums. The Legislature must rise to the occasion and craft a bill for the long-term that will end this standoff.