Malpractice suits need certificates of merit

As a physician in Cedar Rapids, I want our lawmakers to adopt a bill in the Iowa Legislature that would help ensure only medical malpractice cases with merit proceed to trial.

This bill (HF. 490) would require a plaintiff's attorney to find a medical expert to review a case before it's filed. The expert then files a “Certificate of Merit” that states that the facts of a case have been examined and there is merit to allegations that inappropriate care was given.

I've always believed an individual who is injured or harmed has a right to be compensated. Patients deserve a system that doesn't build false hopes of a big payoff when a case simply doesn't exist.

By saving valuable court time for sensible court cases, we improve the litigation climate in Iowa by lowering litigation costs. This is something all Iowans, including our business community and elected officials, should support.

Dr. Steven Jacobs

Cedar Rapids