Opinion ID: 1787098
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: medical malpractice statutes

Text: ś 24. In Wisconsin, a claim for injury resulting from medical malpractice by a health care provider is subject to the provisions of chapter 655. [17] Chapter 655 provides the exclusive procedures for the prosecution of malpractice claims against a health care provider. [18] Among the damages available to a claimant are noneconomic damages, including damages to compensate for pain and suffering, mental distress, loss of enjoyment of normal activity, and loss of society and companionship. [19] ś 25. The Fund was created to pay medical malpractice claims that exceed primary insurance thresholds established by statute. The primary malpractice coverage is $1,000,000 for each occurrence and $3,000,000 per policy year. [20] Health care providers must participate in the Fund. Although noneconomic damages are capped, the Fund provides unlimited liability coverage for economic damages exceeding the primary limits. [21] ś 26. Should a claimant recover noneconomic damages as a result of a medical malpractice injury, those damages are statutorily capped pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 655.017 and 893.55(4) at $350,000, a sum to be adjusted annually to reflect inflation. ś 27. Section 655.017 reads as follows: Limitation on noneconomic damages. The amount of noneconomic damages recoverable by a claimant or plaintiff under this chapter for acts or omissions of a health care provider if the act or omission occurs on or after May 25, 1995, and for acts or omissions of an employee of a health care provider, acting within the scope of his or her employment and providing health care services, for acts or omissions occurring on or after May 25, 1995, is subject to the limits under s. 893.55(4)(d) and (f). [22] ś 28. The financial limits to which § 655.017 refers are contained in Wis. Stat. § 893.55(4)(d), which reads as follows: (d) The limit on total noneconomic damages for each occurrence under par. (b) on or after May 25, 1995, shall be $350,000 and shall be adjusted by the director of state courts to reflect changes in the consumer price index for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, as determined by the U.S. department of labor, at least annually thereafter, with the adjustment limit to apply to awards subsequent to such adjustments. The parties do not dispute that in the instant case the inflation-adjusted cap authorized by Wis. Stat. § 893.55(4)(d) was $410,322.