BME to post verdicts against docs 

As a result of recent articles in Denver’s newspapers concerning medical errors that result in patient deaths and injuries, the legislature has passed a bill that requires the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners (BME) to post jury verdicts against physicians on its web site. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Laurie Clapp (R-Centennial). We applaud Rep. Clapp for taking this small step towards holding negligent physicians accountable to the public, and urge her and the legislature to require that all out of court settlements also be subject to public disclosure. The fact of the matter is that very few medical malpractice cases go to trial, and only a small percentage of the tried cases result in a verdict against the physician. The vast majority of medical malpractice cases are settled out of court and, as a result, never come to the attention of the public.

Still, this new legislation is a definite step in the right direction.  As soon as the BME web site begins to post the verdicts, we will post a link here on the Cross & Bennett web site.