For the past five years, my mom battled severe health problems with determination and courage. She suffered a heart attack, underwent procedures to have a stent and a pacemaker put in, overcame colon cancer, and lived with an ostomy. Through every challenge, she looked forward to healthier days.

Recently, her health worsened due to a wound that led to an ER visit and a week-long hospital stay. It was marked by what we believe to be poor medical care and neglect. My mother lost her struggle for life while under the hospital's care. Disturbingly, we found ourselves unable to file a medical malpractice lawsuit due to her age.

This situation highlights a glaring issue with our existing medical malpractice laws - they discriminate against certain age groups, leaving families like ours with no recourse for justice. This inequity is not only immoral, but it also leaves room for potential negligence and abuse in medical treatment for older adults.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions and receive frequent medical treatment. This increased interaction with the healthcare system should warrant more protection, not less.

JAMA Network Open published a study showing that "patient harm from medical error is much higher than previously reported, and the medical liability system is not providing appropriate compensation to all patients." It's clear that medical errors are far-reaching but disproportionately affect seniors due to current malpractice laws.

Through this petition, we implore lawmakers to reform the medical malpractice laws. It's critical to ensuring that all patients, regardless of age, are protected against medical negligence and have access to the compensation they deserve following a malpractice incident.

This is more than just a battle for justice for my mom. This is about preventing similar tragedies from affecting someone else's loved one. The time to change these outdated laws is now. Please join us and sign this petition.