Wyoming Governor Signs Medical Review Panel Bill

Gov. Dave Freudenthal has signed into law a bill that will create a medical review panel in Wyoming despite voicing reservations that it will succeed in reducing frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits.

The medical review panel legislation was introduced to screen medical malpractice lawsuits in the hopes of eliminating frivolous suits before they rack up costs that contribute to high medical malpractice insurance premiums. Some say these premiums are driving doctors out of practice in Wyoming.

Wyoming voters approved a constitutional amendment last November that cleared the way for creation of the panel. But the final bill that came out of the Legislature was criticized by some as weak because the bill left it up to the judge’s discretion whether the panel’s decision will be admissible in court.

Freudenthal said he doubted whether the panel will be able to resolve cases sooner or decrease costs without having its decision be admissible in court in all circumstances. Such a provision would have encouraged parties to settle, he said, but without it, the panel’s impact will be reduced.

“I am signing the medical review panel bill largely because given the forces at play in the Legislature, it’s probably the best we’re going to get,” he said.

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