Assembly Bill 1011 proposes significant changes to the limits on noneconomic damages recoverable in medical malpractice cases in Wisconsin. The bill seeks to amend existing statutes to establish a new limit of $3,000,000 for noneconomic damages for each occurrence of medical malpractice, a substantial increase from the current limit of $750,000. This change applies to acts or omissions occurring after the effective date of the bill, which will be determined by the Legislative Reference Bureau. The bill also repeals and recreates a section of the statutes to emphasize the balance between providing reasonable compensation for victims of medical malpractice and ensuring affordable healthcare for all Wisconsin citizens.

In addition to the increase in the damage limit, the bill modifies the language in several sections of the statutes to reflect the new limit and the effective date of these changes. Specifically, it amends sections 655.017, 893.55 (4) (b), and 893.55 (4) (d) 1., removing references to the previous date of April 6, 2006, and replacing the old damage limit with the new $3,000,000 figure. The overall intent of the bill is to enhance the compensation available to victims of medical malpractice while maintaining a focus on the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services in the state.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 655.017, 893.55(1d), 893.55, 893.55(4)(b), 893.55(4)(d)1