Texas: Medical Theft Ring Exposed; Trial Lawyers are Robbing Patients of Their Trust

“Ambulance-chasing personal injury trial lawyers must be stopped,” said Peggy Venable, director of the 25,000-member Texas Citizens for a Sound Economy, in response to stunning announcement of a medical record theft ringleader’s arrest in Houston on Thursday.

“The public has no confidence in trial lawyers and now the worst of their tactics have been exposed,” stated Venable. “They have robbed decent, honest Texas citizens of their trust, their money, and their peace of mind.”

“Now that some trial lawyers’ practice of purchasing confidential medical records has been exposed, citizens can only wonder what other tactics they will use to line their pockets at our expense,” said Venable.

“It is clear that we need to pass Proposition 12,” Venable stated. “If we peel back the layers of the onion, we’ll see that trial lawyers, driven by the prospect of outrageous jury awards, are filing excessive numbers of frivolous lawsuits that are robbing us of medical care and providers.”

The risk of lawsuit is costing Texans access to affordable health care. A recent US Health and Human Resources study found the lack of caps on non-economic awards has cost Texans 4,560 physicians, roughly 12% of the total number of doctors in the state. Texas ranks 48th worst in terms of physician manpower with merely 89 doctors per 100,000 population.

“Proposition 12 clearly pits unscrupulous trial lawyers against doctors and medical providers,” Venable continued, “And when asked who do voters trust, trial lawyers or their family doctor, they pick their family doctor every time.”

Proposition 12 is one of 22 state constitutional amendments on the ballot. Early voting started August 28 and runs through September 9. Voting day is September 13.