Mid Husdon News: Medical Society President applauds Hochul veto

By: Mid Husdon News staff

Dr. Adele El-Kareh, a board-certified OBGYN, clinical assistant professor of medicine, and President of the Dutchess County Medical Society lauded Governor Kathy Hochul for her recent veto of the bill to expand liability under the state’s wrongful death statute (S.74A).  The bill would have permitted the families of wrongful death victims to recover compensation for their emotional anguish.

In a letter, El-Kareh said, “In her decision to veto S.74A, Gov. Hochul affirmed her commitment to affordable, equitable, and accessible healthcare opportunities for New Yorkers.”  According to El-Kareh, if approved, the bill would have resulted in patients facing longer wait times to see a doctor and experiencing new challenges in securing specialized care.

According to El-Kareh, the most devastating impact of the bill would have been increased healthcare costs.

“Most importantly, patients will avoid the increase in healthcare costs the legislation would have unleashed,” said El-Kareh. “Had the bill been signed into law, significant resources to care for patients would have been spent on liability costs.  Skyrocketing insurance premiums would prove a direct threat to critical care facilities and safety net clinics, potentially shuttering them across the state.”

El-Kareh charges that high insurance premiums have kept many doctors from choosing to practice in New York.  The proposed legislation would have significantly increased medical professional liability insurance payments, especially for OBGYN’s and specialty surgeons.

“Governor Hochul’s veto demonstrates her commitment to the care and well-being of New Yorkers against profiteering trial attorneys who take 33% of all settlements and verdicts.  Hochul’s careful consideration signals her commitment to both patients and courageous healthcare providers,” said El-Kareh.