News in brief - April 12, 2004

Illinois physician won't get day before state Supreme Court - FSMB supports Internet legislation - Fewer seek plastic surgery career

Illinois physician won't get day before state Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court said it would not hear the appeal of an appellate court's decision that a hospital had the right to summarily suspend a physician without input from the medical staff because the medical staff is subject to the hospital board's ultimate authority.

The case is back in the trial court, where the hospital filed a motion to dismiss the physician's complaint based on the earlier ruling.

The Illinois State Medical Society and American Medical Association/State Medical Societies Litigation Center joined the physician in his appeal of his case, Adolf Lo, MD v. Provena Covenant Medical Center. The Litigation Center is considering how it might assist Dr. Lo with the latest motion in the case.

FSMB supports Internet legislation

The Federation of State Medical Boards recently voiced strong support to a congressional committee for federal legislation that would protect consumers from dangerous Internet drug prescribing practices.

Federation president and CEO James N. Thompson, MD, testified before the House Government Reform Committee. He said the bill, the Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, was needed to protect the public from online pharmacies and physicians who indiscriminately prescribe drugs without establishing a physician-patient relationship.

In 2002, the federation adopted as policy the "Model Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of the Internet in Medical Practice." The guidelines are available on the federation's Web site (www.fsmb.org/policy.htm).

Fewer seek plastic surgery career

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons are adding their specialty to those anticipating a work-force shortage. According to a March article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, medical students are opting for careers in other specialties because rising medical liability insurance costs are forcing many surgeons to limit their practice; falling Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements make it difficult to cover the increases in liability insurance; and they don't like the long hours the career demands.

Rod Rohrich, MD, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons said with the elderly soon to make up more than 26% of the population, a decline in surgeons will make it harder to access care.

"Over the next two decades, there is going to be a meteoric rise in the number of baby boomers approaching retirement age, causing the need for medical care and quality-of-life care to skyrocket," Dr. Rohrich said.

"We're also seeing a sobering trend in the medical community -- fewer medical students are choosing to pursue surgery. If this trend continues we will experience a shortage of surgeons to serve the needs of the aging population as well as younger generations."