4 Networks reject Advert opposing Bush on Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

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4 Networks reject Advert opposing Bush on Medical Malpractice

Lawsuits

Fri, 4 Feb 2005 13:21:56 -0000

 

 

 

New York Times

February 1, 2005

 

Four Networks Reject Ad Opposing Bush on Lawsuits

 

By ROBERT PEAR

 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 - An advocacy group, USAction, said on Monday that

four television networks had turned down its request to run an

advertisement opposing President Bush's effort to clamp down on

medical malpractice lawsuits.

 

The group wanted to run the spots just before Mr. Bush's State of the

Union address on Wednesday. But networks said the advertisement

violated their standards for advertising on controversial issues.

 

The NBC Universal Television Network, owned by General Electric, told

the group, " We are sorry that we cannot accept your ad based on our

network policy regarding controversial issue advertising. "

 

As a general rule, the policy says, " time will not be sold on NBC

Network facilities for the presentation of views on controversial

issues. " The policy does not apply to candidates for public office in

election years.

 

ABC, CBS and the Fox Broadcasting Company said they had also turned

down the advertisement.

 

But CNN plans to run the advertisement.

 

" We will be running the ad this week, " said Jennifer Toner, a

spokeswoman for CNN advertising sales, a unit of Time Warner. " It

cleared our internal vetting process. We accept advocacy advertising.

Our viewers understand that such ads may have a slant. "

 

Mr. Bush has proposed strict limits on medical malpractice litigation,

including caps on damages for pain and suffering, as part of a

campaign for sweeping changes in the nation's civil justice system. In

the television advertisement, Dylan Malone of Everett, Wash., says his

son Ian suffered severe brain damage at birth, as a result of " medical

errors, " and died before his fifth birthday.

 

" President Bush is siding with the insurance, H.M.O. and drug

companies, trying to end what they call frivolous lawsuits, while

100,000 Americans like Ian die each year because of medical errors, "

Mr. Malone says in the spot. " Mr. President, let's fix the health care

mess, but please stop blaming the victims. My son's life was not

frivolous. "

 

In an interview, Mr. Malone said that he had received more than $1

million in a settlement with a clinic where his son was born. But, he

said, much of the money was used to care for the child, who died last May.

 

Business groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers

and the United States Chamber of Commerce, plan media and lobbying

campaigns in support of Mr. Bush's proposals on civil litigation.

 

 

 

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