Bush: Democrat patients' bill would increase lawsuits

Bush: "I want to sign into a law a patients' bill of rights'"

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Wednesday endorsed a predominantly Republican-backed bill establishing a so-called patients' bill of rights and warned against rival measures that, he said, would "create more lawsuits in America."

The Bush-supported plan would direct patients to exhaust an independent medical review process before going to court and would limit suits to federal court, where punitive damages would be capped at $500,000.

The bill's Democratic counterpart, which has been pushed to the top of the Senate's agenda by the slim, new Democratic majority, would provide a slate of guarantees for patients, including emergency care, access to obstetricians and gynecologists and payment for costs associated with clinical trials. It also would permit jury awards of up to $5 million in federal court and unlimited punitive damages under state law.

"Before this year is out, I want to sign into law a patients' bill of rights," Bush told an audience at the Department of Labor, where he spoke about the 21st-century workforce.

Bush said the bill must "guarantee all patients important rights," including the right to get emergency treatment at the nearest emergency room, the right to see a specialist, and the right to a "fair and immediate review when medical care is needed."

Bush repeated his concern that some bills might lead to more litigation. He did not name the Democratic measure specifically, but his message was clear.

"We want to give patients the care they need when they need it," the president said. "The idea is to serve more patients, not to create more lawsuits in America."

He described as a "reasonable solution" the bill crafted by Sens. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, John Breaux, D-Louisiana, and Jim Jeffords, an Independent from Vermont.

Tuesday, senators took to the floor in an informal debate on Democratic-backed legislation to protect patients in HMOs, but Republicans blocked the start of formal debate on the bill.

Democrats promised to keep the Senate working on it even if it means canceling the Fourth of July recess.