A Victory for New York Physicians
We are pleased to inform you that, for the third consecutive year, Governor Kathy Hochul has vetoed Wrongful Death legislation.
On behalf of the New York State Radiological Society, we extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support and advocacy which helped lead to this outcome.
While well-intentioned, this legislation would have dramatically increased medical liability costs for physicians in an already challenging medical liability environment. As you know, New York’s medical liability climate is among the worst in the nation, and this legislation would have exacerbated those challenges, making it even harder to attract and retain healthcare providers at a time when New York should be prioritizing access to care.
The New York State Radiological Society has been actively engaged in this issue, advocating on behalf of our members to protect the integrity of the healthcare system and ensure that physicians are able to practice medicine without the constant threat of soaring liability premiums and lawsuits. We also thank the Medical Society of the State of New York and other medical specialty societies for their partnership in advocating against this misguided legislation.
It is clear that Governor Hochul listened to the concerns of the physician community along with hospitals, businesses, and others in making this decision, noting the higher costs it would likely place on patients and consumers, and other unintended consequences in her veto message (see below).
This result is a reminder that our collective efforts to safeguard the future of healthcare in New York continue to make a difference!
Veto Letter
