Creates a medical malpractice tribunal that would screen medical malpractice actions before such actions could proceed in superior court.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would create a special screening panel — called a medical malpractice tribunal — that would review medical malpractice cases *before* they are allowed to move forward in Rhode Island's Superior Court. Medical malpractice cases arise when a patient believes they were harmed due to a doctor's, nurse's, or other healthcare provider's negligence or error. Under this proposal, anyone wishing to sue a medical professional would first have to present their case to this tribunal for review.

The tribunal would essentially act as a gatekeeper, evaluating whether a malpractice claim has enough merit to justify proceeding to a full court case. If the panel determines a claim does not meet a certain standard, the case could be blocked or face additional hurdles before it could continue. This type of screening process is designed to filter out cases that may lack strong legal or medical grounds before they consume court resources.

This bill would affect patients who believe they have been harmed by medical professionals, as they would face an extra step before their case could be heard in court. It would also affect doctors, hospitals, nurses, and other healthcare providers who are named in malpractice suits, as well as the attorneys who represent both sides. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process — it has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for a hearing, but no final vote has been taken.