Legislation requiring medical review panels for all cases of doctor negligence in Kentucky is again headed to the full senate. The measure passed out of the Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday. Sponsor Ralph Alvarado says three doctors would form a review panel to make a non-binding determination. “I know from my training, I know how physicians are," Alvarado said. "We are brutally honest. I’ve reviewed cases of nursing homes where they didn’t do anything wrong, but the doctor did and I exposed that information.”
Alvarado, a doctor, says medical review panels would not hinder the opportunity to take matters to court. He says doctors chosen for medical reviews would come from locations well outside the origin of the complaint.
Louisville Attorney Vanessa Cantley spoke in opposition to the measure. “We have a problem here in Kentucky with health care, but it’s with 2,700 preventable medical errors resulting in death to our citizens,” Cantley noted.
Cantley says in neighboring Indiana, it may take up to 2 years before a medical review panel renders a decision.
