Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Health and Science University has settled six medical malpractice suits -- a federal judge announced that  Friday.

But as Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the settlements average more than $6 million each -- well above a statewide liability cap recommended to state lawmakers.

OHSU and the state’s trial lawyers agreed earlier this month to a $2 million cap on medical malpractice suits.

It’s an agreement that needs to be ratified by the next state legislature. But Scott Gallant, of the Oregon Medical Association, says now these suits have been settled for so much more, the future of a $2 million cap looks shakey.

Scott Gallant: “This settlement means that people like schools, special districts and others, are going to pay substantially higher premiums to try to cover essentially unlimited liability where there’s an unfortunate injury that might occur in their official duties.”

Judge Michael Hogan slapped a gag-order on all the parties in the suit. But the mother of Jordaan Clarke, who suffered brain damage at the hospital, said her family’s settlement gives them ‘peace of mind.’