DW Simpson
11-07-2006, 10:56 PM
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1160776233717&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
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In New Zealand, you can't sue for personal injury including injury as a result of negligence on the part of a doctor, hospital, nurse, etc.
A person injured by medical error receives some income compensation and rehabilitative services including treatments in private hospitals and clinics, home care, prescription drugs, physiotherapy, all things not covered by New Zealand's equivalent of medicare.
The good news for both injured patients and their doctors is that patients don't have to prove negligence on the part of their doctors.
The Kiwi no-fault system has many appeals. Many more patients will receive some assistance after injury including income supports and coverage for rehabilitation services right when they need them most.
Claims are processed within an average of 15 days as opposed to five years or more in the tort system.
In addition, the claims process is user-friendly — you can easily make your claim without a lawyer — as opposed to the cost and complexity of litigation. New Zealand's scheme seems manageable in terms of total cost; it covers 4 million people for less than $30 million per year or just over $7 per person, per year.
More...
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In New Zealand, you can't sue for personal injury including injury as a result of negligence on the part of a doctor, hospital, nurse, etc.
A person injured by medical error receives some income compensation and rehabilitative services including treatments in private hospitals and clinics, home care, prescription drugs, physiotherapy, all things not covered by New Zealand's equivalent of medicare.
The good news for both injured patients and their doctors is that patients don't have to prove negligence on the part of their doctors.
The Kiwi no-fault system has many appeals. Many more patients will receive some assistance after injury including income supports and coverage for rehabilitation services right when they need them most.
Claims are processed within an average of 15 days as opposed to five years or more in the tort system.
In addition, the claims process is user-friendly — you can easily make your claim without a lawyer — as opposed to the cost and complexity of litigation. New Zealand's scheme seems manageable in terms of total cost; it covers 4 million people for less than $30 million per year or just over $7 per person, per year.
More...