MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PUNITIVE DAMAGES

SB 175 prohibits courts from awarding punitive damages in medical malpractice cases. The bill directly affects patients who might seek punitive damages and healthcare providers who would no longer face liability for such awards. It amends New Mexico's Medical Malpractice Act to explicitly state that "punitive damages or any other exemplary damages shall not be awarded in a malpractice claim," effective January 1, 2027. This changes the legal standard by removing the possibility of punitive damages in these cases, which were previously permitted under the existing law.