Law Change to Address Medical Malpractice Payouts

The Citizen/ANA. Skyrocketing medical malpractice suits have the potential to collapse the country’s healthcare system, the health minister has warned. The justice department will be reviewing the State Liability Act in a bid to deal with the rapid increase in medical malpractice claims lodged against the State, MPs heard today. “Following the escalation of litigation involving medico-legal claims which exposes the State to huge contingent liability and may have the effect of diminishing the fiscal capacity to deliver sorely needed health and other services, we intend to review the State Liability Act, 1957 in order to provide for periodic payments in respect of the claimants’ future medical expenses,” Justice Minister Michael Masutha said while tabling the department’s budget vote in parliament. Read the full article here.