Question: What is Initiative 330?
Answer: It would change laws governing claims for negligent health care, shorten time limits for filing lawsuits and limit repayments to insurance companies and attorneys. It includes a cap, generally $350,000, on the amount patients may receive for noneconomic pain and suffering damages.
Question: Who is backing it?
Answer: The Washington State Medical Association helped organize it, joined by health care groups statewide. The Everett Clinic was one local medical group that allowed initiative petitions to be displayed in offices. It also has been a major donor to the campaign. Providence Everett Medical Center backs it as well. Campaign literature features a stethoscope wrapped around the words “Yes on Initiative 330.”
Question: Who opposes it?
Answer: A coalition of law, labor and environmental and consumer groups, including Washington Citizen Action, the Washington Environmental Council and the Washington State Bar Association. Voters will likely associate the No on I-330 committee with campaign signs that feature a magnifying glass over the word “no” in red letters.
Question: What is Initiative 336?
Answer: A counterproposal to Initiative 330, also aimed at medical malpractice issues, including insurance, health care provider licensing and lawsuits.
It includes a “three strikes, you’re out” clause that could prevent the state from licensing a provider found to have committed three or more incidents of medical malpractice within a 10-year period.
Question: Who is backing it?
Answer: Lawyer, labor and consumer groups, including the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, United Farm Workers, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Brain Injury Association of Washington. It is chaired by Dylan Malone, a noneditorial employee of The Herald.
Question: Who is opposes it?
Answer: In general, backers of the I-330 campaign.
Question: Could voters approve both measures?
Answer: Yes, although neither side is recommending it.
Question: Could voters defeat both measures?
Answer: Yes. And some groups are asking voters to turn down both. They include state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kriedler and five nurses groups: the Washington State Nurses Association, ARNPs United of Washington State, the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Washington chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses. The nurses’ coalition wants the governor and Legislature to come up with a plan.
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