R.I. Gov. Seeks Med-Mal Caps:

Gov. Don Carcieri has proposed capping the amount of money medical malpractice victims in Rhode Island can receive for pain and suffering. The governor’s proposal would limit pain and suffering awards to $250,000, speed up the court process and lower interest rates on prejudgment awards. The governor said many doctors have stopped performing certain procedures because insuring them is so expensive. Malpractice suits in Rhode Island take an average of more than six years to resolve, while the national average is less than five years, he said. Carcieri’s bill would require that lawsuits must be brought within three years of an act of malpractice. In cases where the damage is not immediately noticeable, suits must be filed within a year of the malpractice being discovered. The bill would not cap awards for medical costs or for lost wages.