A group of Southern Illinois doctors sought to address the threat to medicine posed by an out of balance malpractice litigation system. Claims, settlements, and awards were climbing rapidly, leading to rising insurance premiums, the departure of several insurance companies from Illinois, and for some doctors, the loss of access to affordable malpractice insurance. Doctors were retiring prematurely, moving away from the metro east area around St. Louis and southern Illinois, or just leaving Illinois for other states. Those needing a doctor, as well as hospitals, and communities all suffered with the exodus of physicians.
SMASH was formed with nurses, doctors, podiatrists, chiropractors, hospital administrators, physical therapists, business leaders, and community members and activists. The group worked to help elect Justice Karmeier to the Illinois Supreme Court to improve the representation of the people of southern Illinois in the courts. SMASH also supported the no retention vote for an incumbent who stood in the way of judicial reform.
SMASH went on to help fight the battle to win political support for the medical malpractice legislation that included limits, or caps, only for the unpredictable large amounts of money given for what can never be measured, pain and suffering.
In the process, it became apparent that northern Illinois legislators could block the efforts of Southern Illinois to enact this legislation. SMASH went statewide; enlisting doctors and supporters from across all of Illinois.
SMASH welcomes support from anyone willing to join the effort to fight for the survival of healthcare in Illinois. The overturn in Feb. 2010 of the malpractice cap legislation, enacted in 2005, is the most immanent threat. This "no vote" by the Illinois Supreme Court, to carefully crafted legislation written by legal experts, risks starting again the upward spiral of medical liability costs, and insurance premiums. It risks pressuring doctors to leave, or avoid Illinois, as a place to settle and provide medical care for the people of this state.
