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Charlotte Residents Will Lose Rights Under Proposed Medical Malpractice Bill

Posted by Christopher Shumate | Dec 17, 2012 | 0 Comments

March 01, 2011 was a horrible day for North Carolina residents. The state judiciary committee approved a bill proposing essential immunity for emergency physicians for their negligence. The proposal further caps non-economic damages at $500,000. The bill passed the Senate 36-13. All Republicans voted for the bill plus Democratic Senators William Purcell (Scotland), Eric Mansfield (Cumberland), Michael Walters (Robeson), Stan White (Dare), and Ed Jones (Halifax).

Proponents of the bill erroneously argue the need to protect hardworking doctors from frivolous lawsuits. However, they ignore one obvious truth; that the current law provides safeguards against frivolous lawsuits. In fact, 465 medical malpractice lawsuits are filed each year in North Carolina, contrasted with 1.5 million emergency-room visits annually. Furthermore, the 465 annual lawsuits equates to less than 5% of the 9,700 patients killed or permanently injured every year due to medical malpractice. In other words, only 1 in 20 patients who are severely harmed by a preventable medical mistake files suit. So, it's clear the proponents of this legislation have ulterior motives.

About the Author

Christopher Shumate

Mr. Chris Shumate is a native of Gastonia, North Carolina, and worked various jobs while pursuing his undergraduate and Juris Doctor education, including several heavy manual labor and skilled trade positions. In his practice, Mr. Shumate often encounters circumstances where these prior experiences are helpful in representing you. Upon graduating law school from the University of South Carolina, Mr. Shumate joined one of the Carolinas' larger defense firms, where he represented a diverse set of employers and insurance companies in civil cases and workers' compensation claims across the Carolinas. Chris utilized this experience to obtain a working knowledge of the insurance industry, and build personal contacts used today in representing you. Mr. Shumate ultimately decided he wanted to focus his law practice on assisting those who have been injured, and doing so with the focus on a personal relationship that is uncommon in the bigger firms. Mr. Shumate's also has a passion for assisting those facing the challenges of the criminal legal system. By representing individuals in a variety of criminal and traffic matters, Mr. Shumate works to achieve the best possible result for each client regardless of the charges levied by the prosecution. Chris has tirelessly pursued his mission of helping people from all walks of life throughout the Carolinas with a variety of legal matters. If you are interested in learning more about Chris Shumate and The Shumate Law Offices, please contact us at 704.371.5059. We look forward to assisting you to achieve a positive result in your legal concern. Education J.D., University of South Carolina B.S., University of South Carolina Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice N.C. State BarS.C. State BarU.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina Professional & Bar Association Memberships N.C. Bar Association S.C. Bar Association Mecklenburg County Bar N.C. Academy Of Trial Lawyers American Association For Justice

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