Taylor's dad goes to Washington

Massachusetts’ Pembroke Mariner
Wednesday, February 9, 2005

 
The Pembroke father who has led a three-year crusade for medical malpractice victims has taken his case to the highest levels of power.
John McCormack is in Washington D. C. this week to protest a proposal supported by President Bush that would limit damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000. The legislative proposal supported by Bush seeks to limit pain and suffering damages awarded by sympathetic juries swayed by heart-wrenching stories.
McCormack has been an outspoken advocate for patients' rights since 2000 when his 13-month-old daughter Taylor died at Children's Hospital in Boston. The state Board of Registration in Medicine later reprimanded the hospital for delaying the toddler's surgery, resulting in her death.
Taylor urgently needed surgery to remove the build-up of fluid on her brain. McCormack said his daughter could have been saved had doctors at the hospital acted promptly and more closely supervised her treatment.
"Taylor died for a reason, to help other people have due process and fairness" said McCormack, before making the trip to Washington with about 50 other members of the consumer advocacy group, Center for Justice and Democracy.

McCormack said he wanted to lobby Congress against the monetary cap, "to put a face" on the issue of medical malpractice. "What they're trying to do is not right," he said. "If one of their loved ones died, can they honestly tell me they're only worth $250,000?"
For a copy of the complete article, contact CJ&D

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