Doctors Take to Streets to Win Malpractice Reforms, Amid Disputes Over What Will Work
Associated Press
February 3, 2003

Doctors overwhelmed by ballooning malpractice insurance premiums are taking to the streets like never before - rallying, demanding government reform and in a few states, walking off the job.

The American Medical Association, which opposes withholding patient services, says such vocal action by the nation's doctors is unprecedented. The AMA considers 12 states to be in crisis and lists 31 others as having serious problems with malpractice insurance.

In recent weeks, doctors in Florida, Mississippi and West Virginia temporarily stopped some patient services. In New Jersey, doctors are threatening a boycott of nonemergency services starting Monday.

"I never dreamed of being politically involved in anything with this kind of magnitude," said Dr. Alan Zaccaria, a plastic surgeon in Little Silver who is helping organize the job action. "I've been the most apolitical person in the world and now I've been thrown in the lion's den."

New Jersey is one of the most recent states where patients and lawmakers are beginning to feel the effects of the doctors' anger.

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Malpractice insurers also praised that plan, as did the trade group for HMOs, which says stopping frivolous lawsuits will cut down on unnecessary tests and treatments ordered for fear of lawsuits. Attorney groups and a coalition called Americans for Insurance Reform oppose such limits, saying they will harm patients' ability to sue and won't bring down doctors' premiums, even if they save insurers money.

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