The AAOS is committed to safe, accessible, cost effective and quality patient care. However, the structure of the current medical liability system limits the ability of physicians to provide the highest quality patient care and systematic medical liability reform is necessary to improve the overall health care system. The AAOS believes that broad reforms are necessary to compensate negligently injured patients promptly and equitably, enhance patient-physician communication, facilitate improvement of patient safety and quality of care, reduce defensive medicine and wasteful spending, decrease liability costs, and improve patient access to care. Further, the AAOS believes that no federal legislation pertaining to liability reform should include provisions that would undermine effective state tort reform provisions or the ability of states to enact tort reform tailored to local needs. In recognizing that broad reform requires pilots and time before widespread application, it is critical to provide interim relief within the current system through proven measures by state and/or federal legislation.
Recent News
- Good Samaritan Legislation Passes House Committee, Advocacy Now, 2/20/18
- House Subcommittee Advances Good Samaritan Legislation, Advocacy Now, 1/23/18
- House Approves Medical Liability Reform Legislation, Advocacy Now, 7/11/17
- Medical Liability Vote Expected This Week, Advocacy Now, 6/13/17
- Protecting Access to Care Act Moves Forward, Advocacy Now, 3/8/17
- AAOS Applauds House for Bill to Provide Clarity for Sports Medicine Professionals, AAOS Newsroom, 9/12/16
- The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act Passes Committee, Advocacy Now, 7/19/16
- Ensuring Access for Athletes During March Madness, Advocacy Now, 3/29/16
- Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act Hearing, Advocacy Now, 12/11/15
- Barr and Barrasso Introduce Liability Protection Legislation, Advocacy Now, 7/7/15
- Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act Introduced, Advocacy Now, 3/3/15
- AAOS Applauds Introduction of Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act, AAOS Newsroom, 4/8/14
- Hope for a National Good Samaritan Law? AAOS Now, 1/1/14
- The Future of Liability Reform, AAOS Now, 1/1/13
- Trends in Medical Liability Coverage for Orthopaedic Surgeons, AAOS Now, 2/1/12
- Medical Liability Reform and HR 3590, AAOS Now, 10/1/10
- Medical Liability Reform: Back on the Table, AAOS Now, 11/1/09
- Survey Reveals Extent, Impact of Medical Liability Problem, AAOS Now, 1/1/08
Position Statements
Important Resources
Comment/Congressional Letters
Other Materials