Physician Employment Law
United States labor laws are in place to protect, employers, employees and the public. Such laws are of particular importance to physicians who spend their working lives treating patients.
Labor laws relevant to physicians focus on issues such as licensing, physician unions and mandatory malpractice insurance.
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Licenses
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A physician wishing to practice in the United States must receive a doctor's license. A license ensures that an individual is competent and able to improve the lives of the patients she treats.
Physicians must hold a degree as a doctor of medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine (DO). They must also have passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination.
Unions
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Many physicians who work as employees for hospitals have formed unions to protect themselves from unfair treatment in the workplace. Physician unions are rigorously supervised, and they must abide by certain rules and regulations. For example, if there is a grievance in relation to pay, employees may engage in collective bargaining; however, they may not go on strike and stop treating patients who are in need.
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Malpractice Insurance
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In certain states it is mandatory for physicians to carry medical malpractice insurance before they can practice. This insurance protects doctors from liability if a patient is harmed or a treatment goes wrong.
Many physicians choose to carry this insurance regardless of whether it is mandatory by the state in which they choose to practice.
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References
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