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MO Supreme Court Hears Medical Malpractice Case

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-880589.mp3

Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments last Thursday regarding how much money people can be awarded in medical malpractice cases.

In 2005, James and Mary Klotz won a lawsuit against a St. Louis area hospital, after James contracted a staph infection while receiving a pacemaker. But the damages they won were limited due to a state law passed the same year they won their case that allows caps to be place retroactively on non-economic damages in medical malpractice suits.

Their attorney contends the retroactive cap is unconstitutional. Attorney Tad Eckenrode, representing the hospital, defends the law:

"This legislation was simply our legislature's attempts to find a way to make the provision of health care more affordable and more accessible for all Missourians," said Eckenrode.

The state's High Court will rule on the case later.

 

Marshall Griffin is the Statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.
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