Opinion ID: 195171
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Health Act

Text: 4 Because many of the arguments on appeal relate to the Health Act, we offer an overview of the statutory scheme. 5 The Maine legislature passed the Health Act in response to an emergent crisis that threatened the availability of medical malpractice insurance. The legislature designed the Health Act in an effort to stem the proliferation of medical malpractice litigation, weed out nonmeritorious claims, and promote early settlement of meritorious claims. See Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 24, Sec. 2851(1)(A) & (B); see also Sullivan v. Johnson, 628 A.2d 653, 655-56 (Me.1993). By its terms, the Act requires parties to submit medical malpractice claims to a prelitigation screening panel as a condition precedent to court access, unless both sides agree to bypass the panel hearing. See Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 24, Sec. 2853. Each screening panel is composed of a person with judicial experience (such as a retired jurist), an attorney, and either one or two health care professionals, depending on the circumstances of the particular case. See id. Sec. 2852(2). 6 A screening panel is authorized to conduct evidentiary hearings and render a decision. See id. Secs. 2854-2855. A party who submits to the screening process is entitled to proceed with her court case regardless of the outcome of the panel deliberations. See id. Sec. 2858. Withal, the panel's findings (the Findings) are admissible as evidence in subsequent litigation if they are unanimous. See id. When admissible, the Findings are to be introduced without explanation. Id. Sec. 2857(1)(B).