May 21, 2004
ROMNEY SIGNS TAYLOR'S LAW TO GIVE PATIENTS VOICE IN HEARINGS
Governor Mitt Romney today was joined by the family of Taylor McCormack to sign into law a measure that ensures patients have a voice in disciplinary hearings conducted by the Board of Registration in Medicine.
When John and Catherine McCormack’s 13-month-old daughter, Taylor, died in October 2000 after her emergency surgery was delayed, they were unable to attend the disciplinary hearing for the doctors involved. “This bill will make sure that that won’t happen again to any other family,” said Romney.
Prior to today, patients and their families were prohibited from attending the state’s disciplinary hearings against the doctors involved in their cases. The new “Taylor’s Law” will allow them to be present with an attorney and, if they wish, present an impact statement.
Romney praised the persistence of John McCormack, Taylor’s father, who devoted countless hours to making sure that other families have a more open process when filing a complaint against a doctor with the state Board of Registration in Medicine.
“After the death of my daughter, we were shut out of the Board of Registration in Medicine disciplinary hearings,” said McCormack. “I looked into my heart and decided I needed to do something to make sure other families have a voice in the system. This law ensures that patients and their families have due process, accountability and fairness when they have a complaint before the board.”
“I commend John McCormack for his incredible persistence,” said Romney. “He has spent hundreds of hours on this issue for the love of a daughter that was lost so tragically. Today, the McCormack family has made a positive impact that will give families access and involvement in the hearing process.”
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