On Monday, Guam lawmakers held a public hearing on Bill 82-38, which proposes a major change to Guam’s medical malpractice process.
Introduced by Senator William Parkinson, the bill seeks to end the island’s mandatory arbitration system, replacing it with a court-based pre-litigation screening process.
Parkinson argues the current law blocks patients from justice due to high upfront costs, which he said can exceed $80,000.
“Being poor or working class should never be a barrier to justice,” Parkinson told the committee, adding that his bill would allow claims to be evaluated by a judge before trial, with options for mediation still available by choice.
Medical professionals who testified raised concerns about how the changes could impact the island’s ability to attract and retain doctors. Parkinson said he welcomes input from healthcare stakeholders but emphasized the need for reform.
