AMA board rejects plan to unionize physicians

For now, the board of trustees of the Chicago-based American Medical Association (AMA) has put off a plan to form a national labor union representing physicians. The plan isn’t dead yet, though. It’s likely to be the subject of intense debate at the AMA’s House of Delegates meeting next month.

The plan to unionize is essentially a response to recent actions taken against physician groups by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice over the issue of collective bargaining. (See "Antitrust bills seek to restore balance of power," Physician’s Compliance Hotline, April 12, p. 1.)

In a prepared statement, the AMA board said that because the issue is so complex, members of the House of Delegates will be given "an extensive report" on collective bargaining and unionization in time for the June meeting.