WASHINGTON, D.C.—Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s call for medical malpractice reform in last night’s State of the Union address:

“We wholeheartedly support President Obama’s call for meaningful medical malpractice reform.  He is clearly concerned about the high costs imposed by America’s broken medical liability system on patients, health care providers, and taxpayers.

“The president’s support for reform dovetails with efforts by many in Congress.  We pledge to work with the president and Congress to pass bipartisan, commonsense reforms this year.”

Last September, the respected medical journal Health Affairs published a study that estimated the total cost of America’s medical malpractice system at $55.6 billion a year.

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

---