Bill Information

An Act amending the act of October 15, 1975 (P. L. 390, No. 111), known as the "Health Care Services Malpractice Act," amending and adding certain definitions; abolishing common-law medical negligence actions; creating a statutory action for medical negligence; prescribing the elements of the cause of action; defining a physician's duty of care and duty of consent; prescribing the damages recoverable in a medical negligence action relating to nominal damages and damages for noneconomic loss; prohibiting application of collateral source rule; abolishing joint and several liability; limiting circumstances under which punitive damages can be recovered; stating statutes of limitations and repose for medical negligence actions; regulating proceedings prior to trial in medical negligence actions, including setting time limits for discovery, requiring the exchange of expert reports, providing for mandatory pretrial and discovery conferences and requiring priority in scheduling; *** amending and adding provisions regarding health care liability insurance; establishing the Joint Committee on Health Care Liability and providing for its powers and duties; and making editorial changes.