Rep. TOM CAMPBELL (R-Roy)
2nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia office: 334 John L. O'Brien Building
PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Office: (360) 786-7912

For immediate release: Feb. 13, 2008

House passes two bills to protect health care patients from negligence

Olympia - In quick order today, the House unanimously passed two major bills to improve public safety for patients, including enhanced disciplinary authority over health care providers and more transparency in cases of adverse health events. Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy) sponsored both measures to protect the safety of patients who see a doctor or are admitted to a hospital.

House Bill 1103 gives the state Department of Health (DOH) strong disciplinary authority over health care providers who demonstrate negligence, incompetence and cases of criminal action with patients, including sexual abuse. House Bill 2670 covers adverse health events that include removing the wrong leg in an amputation surgery, leaving a medical device inside the body of a patient, or worst case, a case of death of a patient because of such errors.

In arguing the need for passage of both measures, Campbell noted that, while most practitioners are very competent and able professionals, there are many instances of serious offenses brought on by incompetent providers, including negligence, incompetence or even criminal actions by health care providers, such as sexual misconduct.

The first measure (H B 1103) will give the state Department of Health (DOH) strong discipline authority over health care providers, including background checks on health care providers who come to practice in Washington, and it will create sanctioning guidelines for all health care boards and commissions. 

"This is a great day for health care in our state," Campbell said. "This bill brings us a long way to protect the health care consumer." House Bill 1103 "will revamp the way discipline is handled so serious offenders can be barred permanently from practicing medicine in our state if the facts of the case warrant it," Campbell said. "When we have bad players in the profession, we can get rid of them forever."

Of the second measure (HB 2670), Campbell said he first passed a law for disclosure of adverse health events in 2000. But, legislation last year inadvertently established a system of secrecy on such events.

This year, Campbell brought together the Governor's office and hospital associations to fix the problem and ensure transparency in the reporting of such events. Under the measure, hospitals would report adverse health incidents to the Department of Health within 48 hours and DOH would make the information available to assist the public in making informed health care choices.

It also places into law disclosure on 28 such possible event, rather than just six as had been included in 2000. "This bill really opens up the reporting process and protects the public's right to know," Campbell added.

Both bills were approved by the House, 97 to 0, and now go to the Senate, where Campbell is encouraged that the Senate will act on both measures. Last year, House Bill 1103 did pass the House, but died in the Senate. "I'm pretty confident we will get these two bills passed by the Senate, and I'm certain we will get the Governor to sign them into law."

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Contact: Rep. Tom Campbell at (360) 786-7912 or campbell.tom@leg.wa.gov