S. 2207 · 108th Congress
Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004
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7 cosponsors · 7 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004 - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims related to the provision of obstetrical, gynecological, emergency, or trauma care goods or services.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Mar 12, 2004
Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004 - Sets forth provisions regulating lawsuits for health care liability claims related to the provision of obstetrical, gynecological, emergency, or trauma care goods or services.
Sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions.
Allows the recovery of unlimited economic damages. Limits noneconomic damages to $250,000. Makes each party liable only for the amount of damages directly proportional to such party's percentage of responsibility.
Allows the court to restrict the payment of attorney contingency fees. Limits the fees to a percentage based on the amount awarded.
Prescribes qualifications for expert witnesses.
Permits the court to reduce damages received by the amount of collateral source benefits to which a claimant is entitled.
Authorizes the award of punitive damages only where: (1) it is proven that a person acted with malicious intent to injure the claimant or deliberately failed to avoid unnecessary injury the claimant was substantially certain to suffer; and (2) compensatory damages are awarded. Limits punitive damages to the greater of two times the amount of economic damages or $250,000.
Limits the liability of manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, marketers, promoters, sellers, and providers of obstetrical, gynecological, emergency, or trauma care services products that comply with Food and Drug Administration standards.
Provides for periodic payments of future damage awards.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act of 2004
Latest action (Apr 7, 2004): Motion to proceed to consideration of measure withdrawn in Senate.
Policy area: Health · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Mar 12, 2004
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML) · Embed in your story
Latest vote · Senate · Apr 7, 2004
Ending debate (cloture) — Cloture Motion Rejected. Vote details
Senate Majority Leader: Bill Frist