N.J. Doctors Start Slowdown to Protest High Med-Mal Costs

Many doctors across New Jersey are expected to join a “slowdown” in providing non-essential medical services, scheduled to begin today, to protest rising medical malpractice premiums, and to dramatize their demands for effective tort reform.

The unprecedented slowdown follows similar actions in Western Pennsylvania, Florida, Mississippi and West Virginia that have disrupted medical services. The Medical Society of New Jersey issued a bulletin urging physicians to join in their efforts to support passage of reform legislation aimed at capping jury awards and limiting the premium increases.

The MSNJ noted that so far over 16,000 patient petitions had been delivered to the office of N.J. Governor McGreevey, and called on its members to attend a rally scheduled to be held in Trenton tomorrow. It continues to oppose legislation currently being considered by the state Assembly as the bills do not contain caps on damages for pain and suffering.