It was with a sigh of relief for many of us that the 2011 Legislative Session came to an end just a few weeks ago. (Some battles –like a certain HB 477– continued on longer, of course). Here at the Utah Association for Justice, we feel as though we had some victories but also encountered some surprisingly tough challenges, namely SB150 – Negligent Credentialing. Some of us may have assumed that every Utahn would want as much protection as possible against the chance of receiving medical care from a pedophile, sex offender or drug addict. We guess we were wrong…this disturbing notion doesn’t actually seem to bother the majority (that is, our many legislators who voted in favor of the bill). (For more information about SB 150, scroll below.)
The Utah Association for Justice is an organization with a double mission. While first and foremost we are a membership-based organization for plaintiffs’ attorneys, we also strive to protect Utah families from injustice. Our members may appear on billboards and TV ads, but they are also the people that fight tirelessly for the rights of “the little people” and hold the 7th Amendment (the right to trial by jury in civil cases) very close to their hearts, and not just for the sake of their wallets.
In the political sphere, it is easy for us to be labeled as self-serving, just as any interest group is. But the fact needs to remain that our interests are both for our organization’s members AND for Utah’s citizens. We are not an anti-hospital organization; that would be ridiculous, as we all count on hospitals for our wellness a much as anyone. But we are pro-accountability. Hospitals, like all businesses, need to be accountable for their actions. The welfare of Utah families is not something we take lightly at the UAJ.
With this in mind, we were pleased this past Monday to find a well-rounded article in the Salt Lake Tribune on the topic of SB 150, a final plea for attention. If you haven’t already done so, check out the article here: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51510891-76/hospitals-utah-malpractice-bill.html.csp
This morning’s news reported that Governor Herbert signed SB 150, despite this last-minute attention to the issue. However, the bill is still worth mentioning here because these sorts of issues come up again and again, and while it may be “over” for now, the concerns of Utah’s citizens are never at rest. UAJ constantly has a watchful eye on our state’s legislative affairs, and will diligently continue to do so — for our 400 members, and for Utah.
________________________________________________________________ Continue reading
