Malpractice Law

Re “Boy’s Case Reopens Malpractice Law Debate,” Jan. 26:

Not only does the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act law put a cap on the money that hospitals and insurance companies are required to pay the patients they injure, but this terrible law is kept a secret from juries. Twelve men and women honestly try to help a child such as Jabes Salgado who is damaged for life, and their decision is automatically overruled--without their knowledge.

Aside from making fools of jurors, MICRA takes awards that might make a difference to victims and reduces them to a level that’s MICRA-scopic.

ARNOLD SCHWARTZ, President

Consumer Attorneys Assn. of Los Angeles

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In the entire heart-rending article on Jabes Salgado there is no mention of the fact that malpractice lawyers routinely siphon off one-third to one-half of the awards that are supposed to go to their clients. Before we talk about revising MICRA, a statute that has made it possible for physicians to continue practicing medicine in California, let’s talk about how to reduce the monumental greed and hypocrisy--and fees--of trial lawyers.

DANIEL TEMIANKA MD

Palos Verdes Estates

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Does this mean that if I owe the county any taxes I can pay them off with an annuity?

KAY SHAPERO

Los Angeles