Former Pro-Tort Reform Congressman LaTourette Now Looks to Sue Doctor for Medical Malpractice

June 26, 2015 | Crandall & Pera Law
Former Pro-Tort Reform Congressman LaTourette Now Looks to Sue Doctor for Medical Malpractice

Longtime former United States Congressman Steve LaTourette has recently been diagnosed with an advanced form of pancreatic cancer. This type of cancer is aggressive and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, as well as to Mr. LaTourette himself. In fact, Mr. LaTourette may seek to preserve his testimony on video for the legal case due to the aggressive nature of the cancer he is fighting.

According to Politico.com, the former Congressman “filed administrative claims against the government for what he says was negligent care from the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress, which oversees lawmakers’ primary care… [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"][and] is planning to sue for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and compensation for his mental anguish and suffering” stemming from his advanced pancreatic cancer. Mr. LaTourette believes the physicians caring for him were negligent and he now is seeking damages for this negligence.

A history of hurting constituents who filed cases like these in the past


Ironically, while in office, Mr. LaTourette was a huge proponent of tort reform and perpetually attempted to limit or even block a patient’s right to sue his or her physician for malpractice. Looking at LaTourette’s track record, it is safe to say that he has had a “problem” with medical malpractice cases in general, as well as the same type of plaintiffs’ attorneys he has now hired, for a long time.

OnTheIssues.org records the voting record of the country’s politicians in multiple areas. LaTourette has voted “yes” on issues such as “restricting frivolous lawsuits (Sep 2004),” “limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages (May 2004)” and “capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits (Mar 2003”).

The heart of the matter


The numerous and restrictive barriers to justice and the ridiculously low caps on damages will now impact Mr. LaTourette and his family personally. Even if Mr. LaTourette’s case is proven correct, he and his family will face severe limitations on the amount of damages he can receive as well as bars on the type of damages he can even ask for. It is certain Mr. LaTourette and his family will view the issues from an entirely different perspective. Hopefully Mr. LaTourette and his family can take this perspective and advocate what they now should know is the correct view; meritorious lawsuits should have no caps or limitations of any kind.

The problem is not that LaTourette wants to sue his doctor. Cancer misdiagnoses cases are incredibly difficult, and if it is a true case of malpractice than he and his family deserve to be compensated for the future they have lost. The problem is that LaTourette, and other lawmakers, should already know Tort Reform is incredibly wrong and unfair to anyone wrongfully injured by medical malpractice before they become a victim themselves.

To learn more about our medical malpractice services in Ohio or Kentucky, we invite you to contact Crandall & Pera Law.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]