Congress Now reported that “a lobbyist aligned with the device industry said there’s too much work still to do on health care reform for Members to consider the device bill as a stand-alone measure in 2009.” Yet, “Sue Steinman, policy director for the American Association for Justice, held out hope the measure could pass this year and said she believes it has enough Democratic support to clear the House.” Congress Now added, “The AAJ, which represents trial attorneys and patient advocacy groups, argues the Supreme Court decision takes rights away from patients harmed by medical devices.”
The National Law Journal reports, “The bill has been a lightning rod in the legal community, with the American Tort Reform Association calling it little more than an economic stimulus for personal injury lawyers, and The American Association for Justice contending it would restore victims’ rights. Tuesday’s hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcomittee on Health was just as divided.”
From the American Association for Justice news release.
