Guam senators hear emotional testimony as Bill 82 aims to repeal mandatory medical‑malpractice arbitration

A public hearing on Bill 82 — legislation that would repeal Guam’s mandatory medical‑malpractice arbitration process and move the island to a court‑based screening and adjudication model — opened July 1 with emotional testimony from family members of patients who died after care at Guam hospitals.

Carly Kanata, the mother of 3‑year‑old Kaivan Roy Kanata, told the committee her son was brought to the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) emergency department on June 24, 2025 and was discharged that day; he later died after transport to Naval Hospital. “Nothing is gonna bring him back, but it can prevent this from happening again,” Kanata said.

The hearing also included testimony from Emily Ontellon, grandmother of 4‑year‑old Drew Michael Ontellon Bamba, who died Nov. 20, 2024 after a post‑operative complication following a scheduled pediatric surgery. Ontellon described her grandson’s transfer to an intensive‑care area that lacked needed equipment and said staff efforts to resuscitate him were hampered by missing supplies.

Why it matters: supporters of Bill 82 said Guam’s mandatory arbitration process has limited access to justice for low‑income residents, added costs and other barriers that can prevent malpractice…