Bill S.1780

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 560        FILED ON: 1/9/2009

SENATE  .   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1780

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

O'Leary, Robert (SEN)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
              Court assembled:

              The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to expert witnesses in actions for medical malpractice.

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PETITION OF:

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. S00988 OF 2007-2008.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act relative to expert witnesses in actions for medical malpractice.

              Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

              SECTION 1. Chapter 231 of the g eneral l aws , as appearing in the 2006 official edition is hereby amended by adding after section 60 K , the following new section:

Section 60 L .  In any action for malpractice, negligence, error, omission, mistake or the unauthorized rendering of professional services against a provider of health licensed pursuant to section 2 of c hapter 112, including actions pursuant to section 60B of this c hapter, an expert witness shall be board certified in the same specialty as the defendant physician as licensed pursuant to section 2 of c hapter 112.