Posted by Bill Sandweg on 14 May 2012.

Over the past few years, the Arizona legislature has proved itself to be very hostile to those who have been injured by medical negligence.  Many laws have been passed which apply only to medical malpractice victims and which are designed to make it more difficult for them to recover damages for the injuries they have suffered.  There are special rules governing who can testify in cases, whether the jury can be told about the victim’s insurance, and how much extra proof is necessary before the jury can find in favor of a victim.  You never want to be hurt by medical negligence but, if you are, pray that it never happens in Arizona.

Arizona’s legislature adjourned last week.  The good news is that there was only one bill which took away your rights with regard to a medical malpractice issue.   That bill dealt, among other things, with what happens when someone screws up your birth control planning and you have a child you weren’t planning on and may not be able to afford.  This could be the pharmacist at the local drugstore or your OB/GYN.  Maybe the pharmacist gave you allergy pills instead of birth control pills.  No matter how damaged your baby or how much this unexpected pregnancy impacts your finances, you cannot sue the people who made the mistake.  Apparently, as a good citizen, you should be happy with the unplanned baby.  When you consider all the other things they could have done to take away your rights, you should probably be grateful that this was all your legislators managed to do this year.