BILL REQ. #:  H-3487.4 

Read first time 01/21/2004.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to actions against health care providers under chapter 7.70 RCW; amending RCW 4.22.070, 4.16.190, 4.16.350, 7.70.100, 5.64.010, 7.70.080, and 70.105.112; adding new sections to chapter 7.70 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the unavailability or unaffordability of malpractice insurance has caused hardship to health care providers. The legislature further finds that this hardship has the potential to result in impaired access to critical health care services, especially in high risk areas of practice, for Washington state citizens. The legislature further finds that factors contributing to increasing malpractice insurance rates and restrictions in coverage are numerous and complex. No single solution can address these multiple factors, but changes in the civil liability system can significantly address some of these factors. The legislature intends to improve the performance of the civil liability system with respect to the process by which actions alleging negligence by a health care provider are processed and resolved. These changes are designed to ensure that the legal system functions as fairly as possible and that it appropriately addresses concerns that a bad outcome is too often considered the equivalent of malpractice.

Sec. 2   RCW 4.22.070 and 1993 c 496 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In all actions involving fault of more than one entity, the trier of fact shall determine the percentage of the total fault which is attributable to every entity which caused the claimant's damages except entities immune from liability to the claimant under Title 51 RCW. The sum of the percentages of the total fault attributed to at-fault entities shall equal one hundred percent. The entities whose fault shall be determined include the claimant or person suffering personal injury or incurring property damage, defendants, third-party defendants, entities released by the claimant, entities with any other individual defense against the claimant, and entities immune from liability to the claimant, but shall not include those entities immune from liability to the claimant under Title 51 RCW. Judgment shall be entered against each defendant except those who have been released by the claimant or are immune from liability to the claimant or have prevailed on any other individual defense against the claimant in an amount which represents that party's proportionate share of the claimant's total damages. The liability of each defendant shall be several only and shall not be joint except:
     (a) A party shall be responsible for the fault of another person or for payment of the proportionate share of another party where both were acting in concert or when a person was acting as an agent or servant of the party.
     (b)(i) Except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection, if the trier of fact determines that the claimant or party suffering bodily injury or incurring property damages was not at fault, the defendants against whom judgment is entered shall be jointly and severally liable for the sum of their proportionate shares of the ((claimants [claimant's])) claimant's total damages.
     (ii) Subsection (b)(i) of this subsection does not apply to a hospital, as defined in RCW 70.41.020, in all cases governed by chapter 7.70 RCW with respect to judgments for noneconomic damages. In all cases governed by chapter 7.70 RCW, the liability of a hospital for noneconomic damages is several only. For the purposes of this section, "noneconomic damages" has the meaning given in RCW 4.56.250.
     (2) In all actions for damages under chapter 7.70 RCW, the entities to whom fault may be attributed shall be limited to the claimants, defendants, and third-party defendants who are parties to the action and any entities released by the claimant.
     (3) If a defendant is jointly and severally liable under one of the exceptions listed in subsections (1)(a) or (1)(b) of this section, such defendant's rights to contribution against another jointly and severally liable defendant, and the effect of settlement by either such defendant, shall be determined under RCW 4.22.040, 4.22.050, and 4.22.060.
     (((3))) (4)(a) Nothing in this section affects any cause of action relating to hazardous wastes or substances or solid waste disposal sites.
     (b) Nothing in this section shall affect a cause of action arising from the tortious interference with contracts or business relations.
     (c) Nothing in this section shall affect any cause of action arising from the manufacture or marketing of a fungible product in a generic form which contains no clearly identifiable shape, color, or marking.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   It is the intent of the legislature in enacting section 4 of this act that a hospital not be held liable for a health care provider's acts or omissions under so-called "apparent agency" or "ostensible agency" theories as long as the health care provider is properly credentialed by the hospital and does not perform services that are an essential function of the hospital. It is further the intent of the legislature that, notwithstanding any generally applicable principle of vicarious liability to the contrary, individual health care providers will not be liable for the negligent or wrongful acts of others, except those who were acting under their supervision and control.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     A public or private hospital is liable for an act or omission of a health care provider granted privileges to provide health care at the hospital only if the health care provider is an agent or employee of the hospital and the act or omission of the health care provider occurred while the health care provider was acting within the course and scope of the health care provider's agency or employment with the hospital, or if the health care provider is fulfilling an essential function of the hospital. A hospital is not ostensibly liable for any act of negligence committed on the hospital's premises by a health care provider who is properly credentialed and acting as an independent contractor. A public or private hospital may be liable for failing to exercise reasonable care in granting credentials and practice privileges to a health care provider, or in failing to revoke such credentials and privileges when the hospital knew or reasonably should have known such revocation was appropriate.

Sec. 5   RCW 4.16.190 and 1993 c 232 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, if a person entitled to bring an action mentioned in this chapter, except for a penalty or forfeiture, or against a sheriff or other officer, for an escape, be at the time the cause of action accrued either under the age of eighteen years, or incompetent or disabled to such a degree that he or she cannot understand the nature of the proceedings, such incompetency or disability as determined according to chapter 11.88 RCW, or imprisoned on a criminal charge prior to sentencing, the time of such disability shall not be a part of the time limited for the commencement of action.
     (2) Subsection (1) of this section with respect to a person under the age of eighteen years does not apply to the time limited for the commencement of an action under RCW 4.16.350.

Sec. 6   RCW 4.16.350 and 1998 c 147 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any civil action for damages that is based upon alleged professional negligence, that is for an injury or condition occurring as a result of health care which is provided after June 25, 1976, and that is brought against((:
     (1))) a person or entity identified in subsection (2) of this section, shall:
     (a) With respect to a patient who was eighteen years old or older at the time of the act or omission alleged to have caused the injury or condition, be commenced by the later of:
     (i) Three years from the act or omission; or
     (ii) One year from the time the patient or his or her representative discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act or omission; and
     (b) With respect to a patient who was under the age of eighteen years at the time of the act or omission alleged to have caused the injury or condition, be commenced by the later of:
     (i) When the patient reaches age twenty-one or eight years from the act or omission, whichever occurs first; or
     (ii) One year from the time the patient or his or her representative discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by the act or omission.
     (2) Persons or entities against whom an action is brought under subsection (1) of this section include:
     (a) A person licensed by this state to provide health care or related services, including, but not limited to, a physician, osteopathic physician, dentist, nurse, optometrist, podiatric physician and surgeon, chiropractor, physical therapist, psychologist, pharmacist, optician, physician's assistant, osteopathic physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or physician's trained mobile intensive care paramedic, including, in the event such person is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative;
     (((2))) (b) An employee or agent of a person described in (a) of this subsection (((1) of this section)), acting in the course and scope of his or her employment, including, in the event such employee or agent is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative; or
     (((3))) (c) An entity, whether or not incorporated, facility, or institution employing one or more persons described in (a) of this subsection (((1) of this section)), including, but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of his or her employment, including, in the event such officer, director, employee, or agent is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative((;
based upon alleged professional negligence shall be commenced within three years of the act or omission alleged to have caused the injury or condition, or one year of the time the patient or his representative discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by said act or omission, whichever period expires later, except that in no event shall an action be commenced more than eight years after said act or omission: PROVIDED, That)).
     (3) The time for commencement of an action is tolled upon proof of fraud, intentional concealment, or the presence of a foreign body not intended to have a therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, until the date the patient or the patient's representative has actual knowledge of the act of fraud or concealment, or of the presence of the foreign body; the patient or the patient's representative has one year from the date of the actual knowledge in which to commence a civil action for damages.
     (4) For purposes of this section, ((notwithstanding RCW 4.16.190,)) the knowledge of a custodial parent or guardian shall be imputed to a person under the age of eighteen years, and such imputed knowledge shall operate to bar the claim of such minor to the same extent that the claim of an adult would be barred under this section. Any action not commenced in accordance with this section shall be barred.
     For purposes of this section, with respect to care provided after June 25, 1976, and before August 1, 1986, the knowledge of a custodial parent or guardian shall be imputed as of April 29, 1987, to persons under the age of eighteen years.
     This section does not apply to a civil action based on intentional conduct brought against those individuals or entities specified in this section by a person for recovery of damages for injury occurring as a result of childhood sexual abuse as defined in RCW 4.16.340(5).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     In any action under this chapter, each side shall presumptively be entitled to only two independent experts on an issue and only two standard-of-care experts, except upon a showing of good cause. Where there are multiple parties on a side and the parties cannot agree as to which independent experts or standard-of-care experts will be called on an issue, the court, upon a showing of good cause, shall allow additional experts on an issue or additional standard-of-care experts to be called as the court deems appropriate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     In an action under this chapter, all parties shall submit a pretrial expert report pursuant to time frames provided in court rules. The expert report must disclose the identity of all expert witnesses and state the nature of the opinions the expert witnesses will present as testimony at trial. Further depositions of these expert witnesses is prohibited. The testimony that an expert witness may present at trial is limited in nature to the opinions disclosed to the court as part of the pretrial expert report. The supreme court shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

Sec. 9   RCW 7.70.100 and 1993 c 492 s 419 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No action based upon a health care provider's professional negligence may be commenced unless the defendant has been given at least ninety days' notice of the intention to commence the action. If the notice is served within ninety days of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, the time for the commencement of the action must be extended ninety days from the service of the notice.
     (2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section are not applicable with respect to any defendant whose name is unknown to the plaintiff at the time of filing the complaint and who is identified therein by a fictitious name.
     (3) After the filing of the ninety-day presuit notice, and before a superior court trial, all causes of action, whether based in tort, contract, or otherwise, for damages arising from injury occurring as a result of health care provided after July 1, 1993, shall be subject to mandatory mediation prior to trial except as provided in subsection (6) of this section.
     (((2))) (4) The supreme court shall by rule adopt procedures to implement mandatory mediation of actions under this chapter. The rules shall require mandatory mediation without exception unless subsection (6) of this section applies. The rules on mandatory mediation shall address, at a minimum:
     (a) Procedures for the appointment of, and qualifications of, mediators. A mediator shall have experience or expertise related to actions arising from injury occurring as a result of health care, and be a member of the state bar association who has been admitted to the bar for a minimum of five years or who is a retired judge. The parties may stipulate to a nonlawyer mediator. The court may prescribe additional qualifications of mediators;
     (b) Appropriate limits on the amount or manner of compensation of mediators;
     (c) The number of days following the filing of a claim under this chapter within which a mediator must be selected;
     (d) The method by which a mediator is selected. The rule shall provide for designation of a mediator by the superior court if the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator;
     (e) The number of days following the selection of a mediator within which a mediation conference must be held;
     (f) A means by which mediation of an action under this chapter may be waived by a mediator who has determined that the claim is not appropriate for mediation; and
     (g) Any other matters deemed necessary by the court.
     (((3))) (5) Mediators shall not impose discovery schedules upon the parties.
     (6) The mandatory mediation requirement of subsection (4) of this section does not apply to an action subject to mandatory arbitration under chapter 7.06 RCW or to an action in which the parties have agreed, subsequent to the arisal of the claim, to submit the claim to arbitration under chapter 7.04 RCW.
     (7) The supreme court shall by rule also adopt procedures for the parties to certify to the court the manner of mediation used by the parties to comply with this section.

Sec. 10   RCW 5.64.010 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 56 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In any civil action against a health care provider for personal injuries which is based upon alleged professional negligence ((and which is against:
     (1) A person licensed by this state to provide health care or related services, including, but not limited to, a physician, osteopathic physician, dentist, nurse, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, psychologist, pharmacist, optician, physician's assistant, osteopathic physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or physician's trained mobile intensive care paramedic, including, in the event such person is deceased, his estate or personal representative;
     (2) An employee or agent of a person described in subsection (1) of this section, acting in the course and scope of his employment, including, in the event such employee or agent is deceased, his estate or personal representative; or
     (3) An entity, whether or not incorporated, facility, or institution employing one or more persons described in subsection (1) of this section, including, but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of his employment, including, in the event such officer, director, employee, or agent is deceased, his estate or personal representative;)), evidence of furnishing or offering or promising to pay medical, hospital, or similar expenses occasioned by an injury is not admissible to prove liability for the injury.
     (2) In a civil action against a health care provider for personal injuries which is based upon alleged professional negligence, evidence of an early offer of settlement is inadmissible, not discoverable, and otherwise unavailable for use in the action. An early offer of settlement means an offer that is made before the filing of a claim and that makes a reasonable offer of compensation for the injury suffered. An early offer of settlement may include an apology or an admission of fault on the part of the person making the offer, or a statement regarding remedial actions that may be taken to address the act or omission that is the basis for the allegation of negligence, and does not become admissible, discoverable, or otherwise available for use in the action because it contains an apology, admission of fault, or statement of remedial actions that may be taken. Compensation means payment of money or other property to or on behalf of the injured party, rendering of services to the injured party free of charge, or indemnification of expenses incurred by or on behalf of the injured party.
     (3) For the purposes of this section, "health care provider" has the same meaning provided in RCW 7.70.020.

Sec. 11   RCW 7.70.080 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 56 s 13 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any party may present evidence to the trier of fact that the ((patient)) plaintiff has already been compensated for the injury complained of from any source except the assets of the ((patient, his)) plaintiff, the plaintiff's representative, or ((his)) the plaintiff's immediate family((, or insurance purchased with such assets)). In the event such evidence is admitted, the plaintiff may present evidence of an obligation to repay such compensation and evidence of any amount paid by the plaintiff, or his or her representative or immediate family, to secure the right to the compensation. ((Insurance bargained for or provided on behalf of an employee shall be considered insurance purchased with the assets of the employee.)) Compensation as used in this section shall mean payment of money or other property to or on behalf of the patient, rendering of services to the patient free of charge to the patient, or indemnification of expenses incurred by or on behalf of the patient. Notwithstanding this section, evidence of compensation by a defendant health care provider may be offered only by that provider.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 12   A new section is added to chapter 7.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In an action against an individual health care provider under this chapter for personal injury or wrongful death in which the injury is alleged to have been caused by an act or omission that violates the accepted standard of care, the plaintiff must file a certificate of merit at the time of commencing the action.
     (2) The certificate of merit must be executed by a health care provider whose license, certification, or registration is substantially the same as the defendant. If there is more than one defendant in the action, the person commencing the action must file a certificate of merit for each defendant.
     (3) The certificate of merit must contain a statement that the person executing the certificate of merit believes there is a reasonable probability that the defendant's conduct did not follow the accepted standard of care required to be exercised by the defendant.
     (4) Upon motion of the plaintiff, the court may grant an additional period of time to file the certificate of merit, not to exceed ninety days, if the court finds there is good cause for the extension.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 13   (1) A commission on noneconomic damages is established. The commission shall study the feasibility of developing and implementing an advisory schedule of noneconomic damages in actions for injuries resulting from health care under chapter 7.70 RCW. The commission shall present the results of the feasibility study and an implementation plan, if appropriate, to the relevant policy committees of the legislature by October 31, 2005.
     (2) The commission's goal is to determine whether an advisory schedule could be developed to increase the predictability and proportionality of settlements and awards for noneconomic damages in actions for injuries resulting from health care and, if so, what steps are necessary to implement such a schedule. In making its determination, the commission shall consider:
     (a) The information that can most appropriately be used to provide guidance to the trier of fact regarding noneconomic damage awards, giving consideration to: (i) Past noneconomic damage awards for similar injuries, considering severity and duration of the injuries; (ii) past noneconomic damage awards for similar claims for damages; and (iii) such other information or methodologies the commission finds appropriate;
     (b) The most appropriate format in which to present the information to the trier of fact; and
     (c) When and under what circumstances an advisory schedule should be utilized in alternative dispute resolution settings and presented to the trier of fact at trial.
     (3) If the commission determines that an advisory schedule for noneconomic damages is feasible, the commission shall develop an implementation plan for the schedule which shall include, at a minimum:
     (a) Identification of changes to statutory law, administrative rules, or court rules that would be necessary to implement the advisory schedule;
     (b) Identification of forms or other documents that would be necessary or beneficial in implementing the advisory schedule;
     (c) A proposed timetable for implementation of the advisory schedule; and
     (d) Any other information or considerations the commission finds necessary or beneficial to implementation of the advisory schedule.
     (4) For the purposes of this section, "noneconomic damages" has the meaning given in RCW 4.56.250.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 14   (1) The commission is composed of fifteen members, as follows: (a) One member from each of the two largest caucuses in the senate, to be appointed by the secretary of the senate, and one member from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; (b) one health care ethicist; (c) one economist; (d) one actuary; (e) two attorneys, one representing the plaintiff's bar and one representing the insurance defense bar; (f) two superior court judges; (g) one hospital; (h) two physicians; and (i) one medical malpractice insurer. The governor shall appoint the nonlegislative members of the commission.
     (2) The governor shall select a chair of the commission from among those commission members that are not health care providers, medical malpractice insurers, or attorneys.
     (3) Legislative members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Travel expenses of nonlegislative members of the commission shall be paid jointly by the house of representatives and senate.
     (4) The office of financial management shall provide support to the commission to enable it to perform its functions, with the assistance of staff from the administrative office of the courts.

Sec. 15   RCW 70.105.112 and 1987 c 528 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     This chapter does not apply to special incinerator ash regulated under chapter 70.138 RCW except that, for purposes of RCW 4.22.070(((3))) (4)(a), special incinerator ash shall be considered hazardous waste.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 16   Sections 13 and 14 of this act expire July 1, 2006.