830,000 Sign Petition for Mandatory Drug Testing of Doctors

Southern California petitioners are gathering together in hopes of placing the Troy and Alana Pack Patient Safety Act on the November ballot. This initiative would create new patient safety standards, as well as institute mandatory drug testing of doctors in California.

Some peitioners are families who claim to have been victimized by dangerous or intoxicated doctors at the expense of their loved ones. Bob Pack, a technology executive, founded the initiative after losing two children in a motor vehicle accident to who what he calls "a drunk-driving addict" who was over-prescribed pain killers by doctors.

The Department of Finance said the initiave would result in higher malpractice costs for both state and local governments, which could potentially reach more than $100 million annually. Some opposers worry that the initiative would negatively impact the general public, who would be funding these major lawsuits. Individuals are concerned that the initiative simply supports trial lawyers, as it also raises the monetary cap on malpractice lawsuits from $250,000 to $1.1 million.