81R1634 AJA-D
 
  By: Ellis S.B. No. 152
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the standard of proof in health care liability claims
  involving emergency care.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 74.153, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 74.153.  STANDARD OF PROOF IN CASES INVOLVING EMERGENCY
  MEDICAL CARE. (a)  In a suit involving a health care liability
  claim against a physician or health care provider for injury to or
  death of a patient arising out of the provision of emergency medical
  care in a hospital emergency department or obstetrical unit or in a
  surgical suite immediately following the evaluation or treatment of
  a patient in a hospital emergency department, the claimant bringing
  the suit may prove that the treatment or lack of treatment by the
  physician or health care provider departed from accepted standards
  of medical care or health care only if the claimant shows by a
  preponderance of the evidence that the physician or health care
  provider, with wilful or [and] wanton negligence, deviated from the
  degree of care and skill that is reasonably expected of an
  ordinarily prudent physician or health care provider in the same or
  similar circumstances.
         (b)  The standard of proof in Subsection (a) does not apply
  to claims against any individual or entity described or covered by
  Section 74.151(b) or (e) who is regularly in the business of
  providing emergency medical care.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
  this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the effective date
  of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before that
  date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.