Consumer Watchdog

In 2022, Consumer Watchdog Campaign (cwc) advocated to pass the fairness for injured patients act, a citizen initiative measure qualified for the november 2022 California ballot that would have adjusted the $250,000 cap on compensation for California medical negligence victims for inflation, and allow judges and juries to decide fair compensation in cases involving catastrophic injuries or death. Cwc educated the public about how the malpractice cap closes the courtroom door and denies California families justice, and about its disproportionate impact on women and communities of color. Cwc conducted video interviews with individuals harmed by, and the family members of those killed by, medical negligence and produced videos to share their stories. Cwc organized and trained californians in how to share their own stories in support of the measure with lawmakers and the media. Cwc conducted outreach on social media and to traditional media, issuing news releases and generating stories about families harmed by medical negligence across California to illustrate the need to update the cap. Cwc celebrated the success of this Campaign when the California legislature passed historic legislation to update the malpractice cap for the first time in 48 years in spring 2022. The law's reforms took effect january 1, 2023, and raised the cap on a sliding scale over ten years to $1 million in wrongful death cases, and $750,000 for all other injury cases. The law also allows for three separate caps in cases where multiple providers and institutions are responsible, and will increase the cap by 2% every year starting in 2034.