PA: Surgeons stoping practice; State sends warning letter re patient abandonment

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Surgeons threaten walkout over insurance costs

Friday, December 27, 2002 Posted: 8:59 AM EST (1359 GMT)

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) --Dozens of surgeons in northeastern Pennsylvania have threatened to effectively go on strike in January if the state doesn't do something about the high cost of medical malpractice insurance.

Claiming high premiums are forcing them out of business, at least 45 doctors in Scranton said they have stopped accepting new patients and won't perform surgeries after January 1. The total includes 10 of the small city's 18 general surgeons, 14 of its 15 orthopedists, and all 8 of its urologists.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/12/27/fewer.surgeons.ap/index.html

Posted on Sat, Dec. 28, 2002

Pa. warns doctors not to quit

Letter irks those facing huge insurance bills.

By Josh Goldstein

Inquirer Staff Writer

Many Pennsylvania doctors already struggling with skyrocketing medical-malpractice insurance premiums were outraged by a letter they received this week from the head of a state agency warning them not to abandon their patients.

The Dec. 20 letter from Secretary of the Commonwealth C. Michael Weaver was sent to all licensed doctors in the state as a "reminder" of their professional and legal obligations to their patients

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/4826479.htm

W.Va. doctors strike over insurance costs

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/01/01/medical.malpractice.ap/index.html

[sjoe]

Good to see things starting to heat up. Of course, if nurses don't bring their own pressures to bear on these kinds of problems, docs will get what they want and nurses will be left behind...again.

[-jt]

malpractice insurance>

Doctors in West Virigina just walked out ON STRIKE to protest high malpractice costs. Now what was that argument about how "professionals" dont take such extreme action therefore RNs shouldnt either?