While the Senate argues over the finer points of the National Health Care Bill this week, some are worried about the future rights of victims of medical malpractice.

In Richmond, Virginia, this week, 12 Virginia residents and medical malpractice survivors came together to make sure that Virginia’s senators understand the importance of protecting those who are harmed by surgical errors, medical errors, birth injuries, and other cases of medical malpractice.

The group spoke on the importance of patients’ legal rights under the new health care laws as well as the importance of increasing patient safety while reducing the number of medical errors. Among those who spoke included Lisa Searcy of Scottsville, who lost a daughter from a surgical error, Bettie Wilson of Alexandria, whose daughter incurred serious brain damage due to an anesthesiology error, and Jackie Martin of Charlotte, who had an undiagnosed bowel perforation.

The news conference was sponsored by the nonprofit organization, the Center for Justice & Democracy.