N.H. judge questions medical screening panels’ effectiveness
A two-year-old law in New Hampshire that was supposed to speed up the processing of medical malpractice lawsuits has slowed things down instead.
The law created special screening panels designed to encourage people to settle or drop their suits. But Superior Court Chief Justice Robert Lynn has reported that only eight of the 131 cases filed since the law was enacted had been screened. Another 34 of the cases were settled before they could be screened.
Modeled on a system in Maine, the panels were supposed to weed out weak or losing cases, encourage more people to settle and ultimately lower malpractice insurance rates.
New Hampshire and Maine are among 16 states with similar screening-panel laws, according to the American Medical Association.
Supporters of the law include Medical Mutual Insurance Co. of Maine, which writes 65 percent of the malpractice insurance in Maine and about 25 percent to 30 percent in New Hampshire. Dr. Terry Sheehan, Medical Mutual president and chief operating officer, insists Maine’s 20-year-old law has saved time and litigation costs in Maine.
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