"You pass this bill and you’re taking away every bit of anybody holding them accountable,” said Beatty, of Wanette, who spoke at a news conference called by OK Watchdog.
Beatty underwent successful surgery in 2003 to have a tumor removed from her optic nerve, but a staph infection developed. Her doctor prescribed an ineffective antibiotic, she said. The infection caused Beatty, now 42, to lose part of her skull and it impaired her vision. She said she no longer can work.
She filed a lawsuit and a jury awarded her $300,000 in 2007. Her doctor, who eventually surrendered his medical license, appealed and Beatty settled out of court.
The lawyer representing her doctor was Rep. Daniel Sullivan, the author of House Bill 1603, the lawsuit measure passed Wednesday by the House.
Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said he recalled the case, saying Beatty had sued for millions. Beatty said she would not have been able to sue, had HB 1603 been law, which Sullivan denied.
"I’m not sure where she comes up with that,” he said. "They had an expert witness and that’s what you need to get to a jury, she had a lawyer — the two important things you need just to try a case to a jury.”
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