New Jersey physicians stop work in biggest liability protest yet

While 70% of the state's 22,000 doctors participated, protests continue in other states.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. Feb. 17, 2003.

Ridgewood, N.J. -- Two dozen beds at The Valley Hospital's day-patient surgery recovery room sat empty Feb. 3, starched white sheets still tight enough to bounce a quarter off the top.

Hospital gowns lay neatly folded at the foot of the beds.

And there was no need to draw the curtains to give patients privacy.

Physicians from the Ridgewood, N.J., hospital joined thousands of the state's doctors in a work slowdown that included canceling elective surgeries and routine office visits, but treating emergencies.

After a year of getting nowhere with the state Legislature, New Jersey doctors said they protested in an effort to raise patients' and lawmakers' awareness of the insurance problems physicians face. New Jersey is one of a dozen states the American Medical Association has identified as in a liability crisis that has physicians cutting back high-risk services, retiring early or leaving the state because they can't afford or can't get insurance.

Insurance premiums are rising at a time when doctors' incomes are falling because of low managed care and Medicare reimbursement rates. Physicians fear that if no action is taken, doctors will continue to leave the state and patient care will be jeopardized. Doctors are calling for a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice cases as well as other reforms. Many physicians said they would continue the work slowdown until meaningful reform is passed.

While some surgeons in other states have taken leaves of absence from hospitals this year to protest rising insurance costs, the New Jersey job action is the biggest protest to date.