(1) The general assembly determines and declares that it is in the best interests of the citizens of this state to assure the continued availability of adequate health care services to the people of this state by containing the significantly increasing costs of malpractice insurance for medical care institutions and licensed medical care professionals, and that such is rationally related to a legitimate state interest. To attain this goal and in recognition of the exodus of professionals from health care practice or from certain portions or specialties thereof, the general assembly finds it necessary to enact this article limited to the area of medical malpractice to preserve the public peace, health, and welfare.
(2) The general assembly further determines and declares:
The purpose of enacting the "Health Care Availability Act" and amendments theretois to clearly and unequivocally state the intent of the general assembly that, in order to promote the purposes set forth in subsection (1) of this section, the limitations of liability set forth in section 13-64-302 are hereby reaffirmed; and
All noneconomic damages of any kind whatsoever, whether direct or derivative, including but not limited to grief, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, inconvenience, emotional stress, impairment of quality of life, physical impairment, disfigurement, and damages for any other nonpecuniary harm awarded in a medical malpractice action, shall not exceed the limitations on noneconomic loss or injury specified in section 13-64-302.
Source: L. 88: Entire article added, p. 612, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2003: Entire section amended, p. 1788, § 3, effective July 1.