MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PUNTITIVE CLAIM EVIDENCE

HB 379 limits punitive damages in medical malpractice cases by requiring patients to prove "deliberate disregard" for safety with "clear and convincing evidence" before punitive damages can be awarded. It caps punitive damages at 30 times New Mexico's median annual household income and specifies these damages must be paid personally by the health care provider - not from insurance or the state medical fund - starting January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects patients filing malpractice claims and health care providers (hospitals, clinics, doctors) by changing how punitive damages are awarded and paid. It does not prevent settlement agreements for medical care but explicitly states punitive damages cannot be imposed where not otherwise authorized by law.