MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DAMAGE DETERMINATION

SB 444 would require judges, not juries or other parties, to determine the exact amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice cases against health care providers. This directly affects patients who win punitive damages claims and the health care providers (like hospitals or doctors) facing those awards. The bill amends New Mexico's Medical Malpractice Act to specify that punitive damages must be set by a judge, removing ambiguity about how these non-compensatory penalties are calculated. It does not change rules for compensatory damages (like medical costs) or the availability of punitive damages in eligible cases. The bill was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.