Definition:

Refers to California's Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, which was passed by the Legislature in 1975 and signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown, caps the amount of damages for non-economic or "pain and suffering" at $250,000, but leaves unlimited the amount plaintiffs can seek for other damages such as medical costs and lost wages. It also doesn't restrict punitive damages, but such awards require proof of a conscious disregard for the safety of a patient and are difficult to obtain in medical claims.

For physicians and malpractice insurance companies, the law, often referred to as MICRA, has helped hold down insurance costs, prevent unreasonably high jury verdicts from sympathetic juries and kept doctors from fleeing the state.

Critics object to the fact the $250,000 cap hasn't been adjusted for inflation in 34 years. They also argue that because the law allows unlimited awards for economic losses, such as lost wages and ongoing medical costs, it discriminat

Usage:

The lawyers turned down our "250 case" against the negligent doctor because they said it did not make sense economically for them to pursue it.

Synonyms:

MICRA, Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act

Created Sep 21, 2009

Definition:

A physician who has been sanctioned for serious state and federal offenses and placed on a list by the Public Citizen's Health Research Group.

Usage:

Umm, he's a questionable doctor. He's been sanctioned for handing out painkillers like Tic Tacs.

Synonyms:

impaired physician

Created Jan 21, 2010

Definition:

A popular phrase for the mental and financial consequences of being sued for health care-related activities.

Usage:

Malpractice stress syndrome is in full effect for my neighbor, or as you may know him from the paper, "Dr. Perp."

Created Jan 22, 2010

Definition:

Cover your ass. A term used by medical professionals, usually nurses, to describe an action taken to absolve themselves of any potential liability.

Usage:

If I were you I'd call Dr. Cox and just give him a heads up, you know, CYA.

Created Feb 07, 2010

Definition:

A serious or life-threatening medical error.

Usage:

This is the sort of never event that will cause the hospital administrators to have countless sleepless nights.

Created Feb 15, 2010