Consumer Law

Justice Rights a Health Care Wrong

By Andy Hoffman

Every once in a while, a story comes along that thoroughly epitomizes why we think unfettered access to the civil justice system, particularly in cases involving reckless medical professionals, is so crucial.  This is one.

A little over a year ago, more than 100 films and 50,000 slides of child pornography were found hidden in the former home of the now deceased Dr. George Reardon, who worked at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT.  These photos included both his patients, and ?recruits? for his ?growth studies.? Now more than 100 people Reardon allegedly abused as children are suing the hospital, where he worked for 30 years, saying the hospital should have known and should have stopped him.

But in many child abuse cases, as here, the statute of limitation runs before the victims can pull together a lawsuit, leaving them with no recourse and those responsible off the hook.  In an apparent nod to the important role of lawsuits in such cases, the Connecticut legislature is now considering passing a law to allow cases against the hospital by extending the statute of limitations to 2010.  Clearly, the right thing to do.

Full post as published by ThePopTort on January 27, 2009 (boomark / email).