In 2005, Illinois adopted a law that limited jury awards for pain and suffering to $500,000 against doctors and $1 million against hospitals. Illinois medical and business industries supported the cap, claiming jury awards against medical providers had led to astronomical malpractice insurance rates, which in turn, had driven doctors out of the state. Trial lawyers and patient-rights groups argued that the real factor behind medical malpractice insurance rate hikes is the insurance industry. The Illinois Supreme Court called the law a legislative branch infringement on an issue that should be decided by the courts:
The separation of powers clause prohibits one branch of government from exercising ‘powers properly belonging to another. Thus, the inquiry under the separation of powers clause is not whether the damages cap is rationally related to a legitimate government interest but, rather, whether the legislature, through its adoption of the damages cap, is exercising powers properly belonging to the judiciary.
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