The New York State Radiological Society (NYSRS) issued a membership-wide call to action December 16 to urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to again veto legislation that would expand damages recoverable in medical wrongful death lawsuits.
New York S8485-B (A9232-B), which passed during the state’s 2024 legislative session, will change New York’s wrongful death statute. An American College of Radiology (ACR) December 19 bulletin pointed out that those against the measure believe it threatens the overall stability of the state’s healthcare system.
“We are asking physicians to contact the Governor to again veto this one-sided legislation and urge that any legislation to update New York’s wrongful death law be balanced to also bring down our extraordinary medical liability costs,” stated the NYSRS appeal. Hochul has vetoed past legislation due to its broad implications.
A primary concern is a component of S8485, also referred to as the Grieving Families Act, that would not only enable awards for grief and anguish but greatly expand the relationships of people who may recover damages for wrongful death. The Healthcare Association of New York State said in June that it, too, was against the changes, as did the Medical Society of the State of New York.
If enacted, the measure could have far-reaching consequences for physicians, patients, and the state’s healthcare system as a whole, the ACR bulletin noted.