FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 20, 2019)—Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje commenced the first part of a series of informational hearings on Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act. 

Thursday’s first informational hearing focused on the basic background of Guam’s Medical Malpractice Mandatory Arbitration Act. The Office of the Attorney General of Guam, Attorney Mitch Thompson, and members of the Guam Bar Association, including lawyers who volunteered to assist the Legislature with examining the malpractice law, were invited to attend and shared an overview of the current statute and relevant cases. Patients and members of the public also testified and shared their personal experiences and the impact the malpractice law has had on their families. From our first hearing, we learned that arbitration costs are clearly an issue and more information is needed from providers of arbitration services and those who have engaged in the process. 

Having the input from the legal community, medical professionals, and patients is important as we address the intent of the law, and its impact on the standard of health care on Guam. I’m grateful for the willingness of our legal and health professionals for assisting in this regard. A review is long overdue, and is critical especially for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Thank you to Mr. David Lubofsky and Ms. Anelyn Lagrimas for not only having the courage to share your experiences and the impact the medical malpractice law has had on your families, but for the extensive research you have done in the process. I offer my deepest condolences to our families experiencing loss, and remain committed to ensuring fairness in the process and most of all, access to justice.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Chairperson, Committee on Health

All health professionals are invited to a second informational hearing on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. to focus on the effect of the current law on standards of care. A third informational hearing is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. and will focus on recommendations for improvement. All hearings will take place at the Public Hearing Room of the Guam Congress Building. Patients and the public are invited to attend both hearings and provide written testimony. 

To read written testimony submitted to the Committee on Health, please view the following:

As we the Committee receives testimony, they will be posted on this website. You can watch the first informational hearing on the Guam Legislature’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwcPPG11ZEA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 4, 2019)—Today we take a major step in getting children out of harm’s way and into a safer living environment with the signing of Bill 159-35 into Public Law. 

Public Law 35-35, introduced by Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje and Senator Mary Torres, and co-sponsored by all senators in the 35^thGuam Legislature, will increase the capacity of the new emergency foster care shelter for more than 12 children. The new 7,000-sq. ft. I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M. foster care shelter, is set to be completed by October 2019. 

Our efforts with this measure were prompted by the sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl who was living in an abandoned structure in Dededo last year. Any crime against our children and our most vulnerable cannot and should not be ignored. While we work to address the bigger problem of abuse and homelessness with our children, today we take an important step in helping our most vulnerable get into a safer living environment. Thank you to all our stakeholders who worked on this bill and provided crucial input at our series of meetings and roundtables over the past year. 

Si Yu’os Ma’åse to Sister Mary Brigid Perez, former First Lady Christine Calvo, the Rigalu Foundation, the Department of Public Health and Social Services for your hard work and vision, and most especially to our foster families for opening their hearts and homes for our children. 

Si Yu’os Ma’åse to our women Senators in the previous term, the Guam Homeless Coalition, CPS, GHURA, Guam Housing Corporation, and GPD for leaving no stone unturned in seeking ways to prevent the abuse of homeless children.