97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB4407

 

Introduced 1/30/2012, by Rep. Michael J. Madigan

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
735 ILCS 5/2-622  from Ch. 110, par. 2-622

    Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning healing art malpractice.


LRB097 15399 AJO 60499 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4407LRB097 15399 AJO 60499 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by
5changing Section 2-622 as follows:
 
6    (735 ILCS 5/2-622)  (from Ch. 110, par. 2-622)
7    (Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 89-7, which
8has been held unconstitutional)
9    Sec. 2-622. Healing art malpractice.
10    (a) In any action, whether in tort, contract or otherwise,
11in which the the plaintiff seeks damages for injuries or death
12by reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art
13malpractice, the plaintiff's attorney or the plaintiff, if the
14plaintiff is proceeding pro se, shall file an affidavit,
15attached to the original and all copies of the complaint,
16declaring one of the following:
17        1. That the affiant has consulted and reviewed the
18    facts of the case with a health professional who the
19    affiant reasonably believes: (i) is knowledgeable in the
20    relevant issues involved in the particular action; (ii)
21    practices or has practiced within the last 6 years or
22    teaches or has taught within the last 6 years in the same
23    area of health care or medicine that is at issue in the

 

 

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1    particular action; and (iii) is qualified by experience or
2    demonstrated competence in the subject of the case; that
3    the reviewing health professional has determined in a
4    written report, after a review of the medical record and
5    other relevant material involved in the particular action
6    that there is a reasonable and meritorious cause for the
7    filing of such action; and that the affiant has concluded
8    on the basis of the reviewing health professional's review
9    and consultation that there is a reasonable and meritorious
10    cause for filing of such action. If the affidavit is filed
11    as to a defendant who is a physician licensed to treat
12    human ailments without the use of drugs or medicines and
13    without operative surgery, a dentist, a podiatrist, a
14    psychologist, or a naprapath, the written report must be
15    from a health professional licensed in the same profession,
16    with the same class of license, as the defendant. For
17    affidavits filed as to all other defendants, the written
18    report must be from a physician licensed to practice
19    medicine in all its branches. In either event, the
20    affidavit must identify the profession of the reviewing
21    health professional. A copy of the written report, clearly
22    identifying the plaintiff and the reasons for the reviewing
23    health professional's determination that a reasonable and
24    meritorious cause for the filing of the action exists, must
25    be attached to the affidavit. The report shall include the
26    name and the address of the health professional.

 

 

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1        2. That the plaintiff has not previously voluntarily
2    dismissed an action based upon the same or substantially
3    the same acts, omissions, or occurrences and that the
4    affiant was unable to obtain a consultation required by
5    paragraph 1 because a statute of limitations would impair
6    the action and the consultation required could not be
7    obtained before the expiration of the statute of
8    limitations. If an affidavit is executed pursuant to this
9    paragraph, the certificate and written report required by
10    paragraph 1 shall be filed within 90 days after the filing
11    of the complaint. The defendant shall be excused from
12    answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days after being
13    served with a certificate required by paragraph 1.
14        3. That a request has been made by the plaintiff or his
15    attorney for examination and copying of records pursuant to
16    Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code and the party required
17    to comply under those Sections has failed to produce such
18    records within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If an
19    affidavit is executed pursuant to this paragraph, the
20    certificate and written report required by paragraph 1
21    shall be filed within 90 days following receipt of the
22    requested records. All defendants except those whose
23    failure to comply with Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code
24    is the basis for an affidavit under this paragraph shall be
25    excused from answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days
26    after being served with the certificate required by

 

 

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1    paragraph 1.
2    (b) Where a certificate and written report are required
3pursuant to this Section a separate certificate and written
4report shall be filed as to each defendant who has been named
5in the complaint and shall be filed as to each defendant named
6at a later time.
7    (c) Where the plaintiff intends to rely on the doctrine of
8"res ipsa loquitur", as defined by Section 2-1113 of this Code,
9the certificate and written report must state that, in the
10opinion of the reviewing health professional, negligence has
11occurred in the course of medical treatment. The affiant shall
12certify upon filing of the complaint that he is relying on the
13doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur".
14    (d) When the attorney intends to rely on the doctrine of
15failure to inform of the consequences of the procedure, the
16attorney shall certify upon the filing of the complaint that
17the reviewing health professional has, after reviewing the
18medical record and other relevant materials involved in the
19particular action, concluded that a reasonable health
20professional would have informed the patient of the
21consequences of the procedure.
22    (e) Allegations and denials in the affidavit, made without
23reasonable cause and found to be untrue, shall subject the
24party pleading them or his attorney, or both, to the payment of
25reasonable expenses, actually incurred by the other party by
26reason of the untrue pleading, together with reasonable

 

 

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1attorneys' fees to be summarily taxed by the court upon motion
2made within 30 days of the judgment or dismissal. In no event
3shall the award for attorneys' fees and expenses exceed those
4actually paid by the moving party, including the insurer, if
5any. In proceedings under this paragraph (e), the moving party
6shall have the right to depose and examine any and all
7reviewing health professionals who prepared reports used in
8conjunction with an affidavit required by this Section.
9    (f) A reviewing health professional who in good faith
10prepares a report used in conjunction with an affidavit
11required by this Section shall have civil immunity from
12liability which otherwise might result from the preparation of
13such report.
14    (g) The failure to file a certificate required by this
15Section shall be grounds for dismissal under Section 2-619.
16    (h) This amendatory Act of 1995 does not apply to or affect
17any actions pending at the time of its effective date, but
18applies to cases filed on or after its effective date.
19    (i) This amendatory Act of 1997 does not apply to or affect
20any actions pending at the time of its effective date, but
21applies to cases filed on or after its effective date.
22(Source: P.A. 86-646; 89-7, eff. 3-9-95; 90-579, eff. 5-1-98.)
 
23    (Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 94-677,
24which has been held unconstitutional)
25    Sec. 2-622. Healing art malpractice.

 

 

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1    (a) In any action, whether in tort, contract or otherwise,
2in which the plaintiff seeks damages for injuries or death by
3reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art malpractice,
4the plaintiff's attorney or the plaintiff, if the plaintiff is
5proceeding pro se, shall file an affidavit, attached to the
6original and all copies of the complaint, declaring one of the
7following:
8        1. That the affiant has consulted and reviewed the
9    facts of the case with a health professional who the
10    affiant reasonably believes: (i) is knowledgeable in the
11    relevant issues involved in the particular action; (ii)
12    practices or has practiced within the last 5 years or
13    teaches or has taught within the last 5 years in the same
14    area of health care or medicine that is at issue in the
15    particular action; and (iii) meets the expert witness
16    standards set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) of
17    Section 8-2501; that the reviewing health professional has
18    determined in a written report, after a review of the
19    medical record and other relevant material involved in the
20    particular action that there is a reasonable and
21    meritorious cause for the filing of such action; and that
22    the affiant has concluded on the basis of the reviewing
23    health professional's review and consultation that there
24    is a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing of such
25    action. A single written report must be filed to cover each
26    defendant in the action. As to defendants who are

 

 

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1    individuals, the written report must be from a health
2    professional licensed in the same profession, with the same
3    class of license, as the defendant. For written reports
4    filed as to all other defendants, who are not individuals,
5    the written report must be from a physician licensed to
6    practice medicine in all its branches who is qualified by
7    experience with the standard of care, methods, procedures
8    and treatments relevant to the allegations at issue in the
9    case. In either event, the written report must identify the
10    profession of the reviewing health professional. A copy of
11    the written report, clearly identifying the plaintiff and
12    the reasons for the reviewing health professional's
13    determination that a reasonable and meritorious cause for
14    the filing of the action exists, including the reviewing
15    health care professional's name, address, current license
16    number, and state of licensure, must be attached to the
17    affidavit. Information regarding the preparation of a
18    written report by the reviewing health professional shall
19    not be used to discriminate against that professional in
20    the issuance of medical liability insurance or in the
21    setting of that professional's medical liability insurance
22    premium. No professional organization may discriminate
23    against a reviewing health professional on the basis that
24    the reviewing health professional has prepared a written
25    report.
26        2. That the affiant was unable to obtain a consultation

 

 

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1    required by paragraph 1 because a statute of limitations
2    would impair the action and the consultation required could
3    not be obtained before the expiration of the statute of
4    limitations. If an affidavit is executed pursuant to this
5    paragraph, the affidavit and written report required by
6    paragraph 1 shall be filed within 90 days after the filing
7    of the complaint. No additional 90-day extensions pursuant
8    to this paragraph shall be granted, except where there has
9    been a withdrawal of the plaintiff's counsel. The defendant
10    shall be excused from answering or otherwise pleading until
11    30 days after being served with an affidavit and a report
12    required by paragraph 1.
13        3. That a request has been made by the plaintiff or his
14    attorney for examination and copying of records pursuant to
15    Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code and the party required
16    to comply under those Sections has failed to produce such
17    records within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If an
18    affidavit is executed pursuant to this paragraph, the
19    affidavit and written report required by paragraph 1 shall
20    be filed within 90 days following receipt of the requested
21    records. All defendants except those whose failure to
22    comply with Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code is the
23    basis for an affidavit under this paragraph shall be
24    excused from answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days
25    after being served with the affidavit and report required
26    by paragraph 1.

 

 

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1    (b) Where an affidavit and written report are required
2pursuant to this Section a separate affidavit and written
3report shall be filed as to each defendant who has been named
4in the complaint and shall be filed as to each defendant named
5at a later time.
6    (c) Where the plaintiff intends to rely on the doctrine of
7"res ipsa loquitur", as defined by Section 2-1113 of this Code,
8the affidavit and written report must state that, in the
9opinion of the reviewing health professional, negligence has
10occurred in the course of medical treatment. The affiant shall
11certify upon filing of the complaint that he is relying on the
12doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur".
13    (d) When the attorney intends to rely on the doctrine of
14failure to inform of the consequences of the procedure, the
15attorney shall certify upon the filing of the complaint that
16the reviewing health professional has, after reviewing the
17medical record and other relevant materials involved in the
18particular action, concluded that a reasonable health
19professional would have informed the patient of the
20consequences of the procedure.
21    (e) Allegations and denials in the affidavit, made without
22reasonable cause and found to be untrue, shall subject the
23party pleading them or his attorney, or both, to the payment of
24reasonable expenses, actually incurred by the other party by
25reason of the untrue pleading, together with reasonable
26attorneys' fees to be summarily taxed by the court upon motion

 

 

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1made within 30 days of the judgment or dismissal. In no event
2shall the award for attorneys' fees and expenses exceed those
3actually paid by the moving party, including the insurer, if
4any. In proceedings under this paragraph (e), the moving party
5shall have the right to depose and examine any and all
6reviewing health professionals who prepared reports used in
7conjunction with an affidavit required by this Section.
8    (f) A reviewing health professional who in good faith
9prepares a report used in conjunction with an affidavit
10required by this Section shall have civil immunity from
11liability which otherwise might result from the preparation of
12such report.
13    (g) The failure of the plaintiff to file an affidavit and
14report in compliance with this Section shall be grounds for
15dismissal under Section 2-619.
16    (h) This Section does not apply to or affect any actions
17pending at the time of its effective date, but applies to cases
18filed on or after its effective date.
19    (i) This amendatory Act of 1997 does not apply to or affect
20any actions pending at the time of its effective date, but
21applies to cases filed on or after its effective date.
22    (j) The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act
23of the 94th General Assembly apply to causes of action accruing
24on or after its effective date.
25(Source: P.A. 94-677, eff. 8-25-05.)
 

 

 

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1    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 89-7 and
294-677, which have been held unconstitutional)
3    Sec. 2-622. Healing art malpractice.
4    (a) In any action, whether in tort, contract or otherwise,
5in which the plaintiff seeks damages for injuries or death by
6reason of medical, hospital, or other healing art malpractice,
7the plaintiff's attorney or the plaintiff, if the plaintiff is
8proceeding pro se, shall file an affidavit, attached to the
9original and all copies of the complaint, declaring one of the
10following:
11        1. That the affiant has consulted and reviewed the
12    facts of the case with a health professional who the
13    affiant reasonably believes: (i) is knowledgeable in the
14    relevant issues involved in the particular action; (ii)
15    practices or has practiced within the last 6 years or
16    teaches or has taught within the last 6 years in the same
17    area of health care or medicine that is at issue in the
18    particular action; and (iii) is qualified by experience or
19    demonstrated competence in the subject of the case; that
20    the reviewing health professional has determined in a
21    written report, after a review of the medical record and
22    other relevant material involved in the particular action
23    that there is a reasonable and meritorious cause for the
24    filing of such action; and that the affiant has concluded
25    on the basis of the reviewing health professional's review
26    and consultation that there is a reasonable and meritorious

 

 

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1    cause for filing of such action. If the affidavit is filed
2    as to a defendant who is a physician licensed to treat
3    human ailments without the use of drugs or medicines and
4    without operative surgery, a dentist, a podiatrist, a
5    psychologist, or a naprapath, the written report must be
6    from a health professional licensed in the same profession,
7    with the same class of license, as the defendant. For
8    affidavits filed as to all other defendants, the written
9    report must be from a physician licensed to practice
10    medicine in all its branches. In either event, the
11    affidavit must identify the profession of the reviewing
12    health professional. A copy of the written report, clearly
13    identifying the plaintiff and the reasons for the reviewing
14    health professional's determination that a reasonable and
15    meritorious cause for the filing of the action exists, must
16    be attached to the affidavit, but information which would
17    identify the reviewing health professional may be deleted
18    from the copy so attached.
19        2. That the affiant was unable to obtain a consultation
20    required by paragraph 1 because a statute of limitations
21    would impair the action and the consultation required could
22    not be obtained before the expiration of the statute of
23    limitations. If an affidavit is executed pursuant to this
24    paragraph, the certificate and written report required by
25    paragraph 1 shall be filed within 90 days after the filing
26    of the complaint. The defendant shall be excused from

 

 

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1    answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days after being
2    served with a certificate required by paragraph 1.
3        3. That a request has been made by the plaintiff or his
4    attorney for examination and copying of records pursuant to
5    Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code and the party required
6    to comply under those Sections has failed to produce such
7    records within 60 days of the receipt of the request. If an
8    affidavit is executed pursuant to this paragraph, the
9    certificate and written report required by paragraph 1
10    shall be filed within 90 days following receipt of the
11    requested records. All defendants except those whose
12    failure to comply with Part 20 of Article VIII of this Code
13    is the basis for an affidavit under this paragraph shall be
14    excused from answering or otherwise pleading until 30 days
15    after being served with the certificate required by
16    paragraph 1.
17    (b) Where a certificate and written report are required
18pursuant to this Section a separate certificate and written
19report shall be filed as to each defendant who has been named
20in the complaint and shall be filed as to each defendant named
21at a later time.
22    (c) Where the plaintiff intends to rely on the doctrine of
23"res ipsa loquitur", as defined by Section 2-1113 of this Code,
24the certificate and written report must state that, in the
25opinion of the reviewing health professional, negligence has
26occurred in the course of medical treatment. The affiant shall

 

 

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1certify upon filing of the complaint that he is relying on the
2doctrine of "res ipsa loquitur".
3    (d) When the attorney intends to rely on the doctrine of
4failure to inform of the consequences of the procedure, the
5attorney shall certify upon the filing of the complaint that
6the reviewing health professional has, after reviewing the
7medical record and other relevant materials involved in the
8particular action, concluded that a reasonable health
9professional would have informed the patient of the
10consequences of the procedure.
11    (e) Allegations and denials in the affidavit, made without
12reasonable cause and found to be untrue, shall subject the
13party pleading them or his attorney, or both, to the payment of
14reasonable expenses, actually incurred by the other party by
15reason of the untrue pleading, together with reasonable
16attorneys' fees to be summarily taxed by the court upon motion
17made within 30 days of the judgment or dismissal. In no event
18shall the award for attorneys' fees and expenses exceed those
19actually paid by the moving party, including the insurer, if
20any. In proceedings under this paragraph (e), the moving party
21shall have the right to depose and examine any and all
22reviewing health professionals who prepared reports used in
23conjunction with an affidavit required by this Section.
24    (f) A reviewing health professional who in good faith
25prepares a report used in conjunction with an affidavit
26required by this Section shall have civil immunity from

 

 

HB4407- 15 -LRB097 15399 AJO 60499 b

1liability which otherwise might result from the preparation of
2such report.
3    (g) The failure to file a certificate required by this
4Section shall be grounds for dismissal under Section 2-619.
5    (h) This Section does not apply to or affect any actions
6pending at the time of its effective date, but applies to cases
7filed on or after its effective date.
8    (i) This amendatory Act of 1997 does not apply to or affect
9any actions pending at the time of its effective date, but
10applies to cases filed on or after its effective date.
11(Source: P.A. 86-646; 90-579, eff. 5-1-98.)