Local News
Murphey proposes malpractice bill to house
EDMOND — Newly elected state Rep. Jason W. Murphey, R-Guthrie, said Oklahoma patients soon may have a new option to ensure they are properly and quickly compensated for medical malpractice while helping to drive down the cost of medical services. The District 31 representative is introducing legislation to lower medical costs by providing incentive for insurers to write Negative Outcomes insurance policies.
Murphey said Negative Outcomes insurance is a unique approach to medical tort reform and will provide a free market alternative to the crises faced by physicians forced to deal with the high cost of medical malpractice insurance.
If passed, House Bill 1018 will allow a tax deduction for patients who purchase Negative Outcomes insurance. In the event of medical malpractice, the insurance would allow a patient to make an immediate claim for recovery of damages. He said it will eliminate the need to become involved in protracted legal action against a physician, and leave the decision to litigate with the insurance company. Murphey said a patient could receive a settlement directly and avoid costly legal fees.
“I think this legislation would be a significant step in reducing incentive for those promoting ‘jackpot justice’ legal actions against Oklahoma physicians,” Murphey said.
Murphey credited the idea to U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, who sponsored the legislation in Washington and to Oklahoma House District 90 State Rep. Charles Key.
“Rep. Key brought the issue to my attention and encouraged me to move it forward,” Murphey said.
“I was impressed by the innovative nature of the concept and look forward to advocating for this and other reform-minded issues.”
Murphey won election to the House of Representatives in November. His district includes a portion of Northern Edmond and all of Logan County.
(John A. Williams may be reached via e-mail at jwilliams@edmondsun.com.)
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$20M concert hall opens in Edmond
Sitting in one of Armstrong Auditorium’s plush seats, looking at the concert stage you can easily imagine Luciano Pavarotti singing “Nessun Dorma.”
It won’t be long before patrons will be listening to actual world-class artists performing on the stage. -
Republican women open HQ
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mary Fallin asked undecided voters to carefully consider where each candidate stands on issues concerning Oklahoma.
The 5th District congresswoman was one of many dignitaries attending the Edmond Republican Women Headquarters grand opening Thursday morning at 3409 Broadway Extension, suite 600. -
Police stress holiday anti-alcohol efforts
Labor Day weekend is a time for rest, parades, picnics, parties and day trips — and alcohol.
Police urge motorists to drive safely, and if they drink too much alcohol and get a little tipsy, an auto travel club offers a ride home and a tow — at no charge. -
Oklahoma City University reading series gets ‘Rebirthed’
OKLAHOMA CITY — A reading series at Oklahoma City University this fall will focus on the influence of the Civil War era.
The Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma book discussion series called “Rebirth of a Nation: Nationalism and the Civil War” begins Sept. 14 with “Two Roads to Sumter,” a comparative biography about Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis written by William and Bruce Catton. All discussion sessions are free to the public. The book discussions begin at 7 p.m. in Walker Center room 151. -
Monday Study Club to hold year’s first meeting
Mothers of students in sixth grade through college are invited to join The Monday Study Club. A local fixture since 1946, club meetings offer moms an opportunity to hear speakers and to exchange information on topics of interest to parents of teenagers and young adults.
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9-3 This Week: what to do, what to see
3 Friday
Science Museum Oklahoma will host an extreme sports expo from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 3. The event will feature the dome movie “Extreme” and a close look at the science behind several extreme sports. To register for this event or more information on this and other exhibits at Science Museum Oklahoma guests can call 602-6664, or visit www.sciencemuseumok.org for more information. -
Offshore oil rig explodes in Gulf of Mexico
ATLANTA — Another offshore oil facility caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday morning, sending 13 workers into the water to be rescued by boat, and sending enough petroleum into the water to create a mile-long-by-100-foot-wide sheen, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Offshore platform explodes in Gulf of Mexico
An offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico exploded on Thursday, but the company that owned it said it mainly produced natural gas and reported no slick after an initial flyover.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported a sheen on the water about 100 feet wide and perhaps a mile long near the rig, which is west of BP’s blown-out well but operates in much shallower water than the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon. -
Coburn calls for transparency
Americans are filled with anxiety and fear as they consider their future with a $13.3 trillion debt set to become $20 trillion during the next nine years, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn said. Well-intentioned legislation through the years has abandoned the fundamentals of a limited federal government set forth by the U.S. Constitution, said Coburn, R-Muskogee.
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Police: Raids effective
Recent raids at two apartment complexes were effective, but they are not the end to gang and drug issues in Edmond, police said.
During a two-day stretch last week, Edmond led a multi-agency operation that netted a total of 18 arrests and drugs at the Rolling Green and ChapelRidge apartment complexes. - More Local News Headlines
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