Christine Giesa, DO, FACOEP advocates alongside other major EM associations for physician protection.

Emergency physicians are the front line of healthcare in this country, often going above and beyond to treat every person who walks through the door.

As the structure surrounding emergency medicine changes, physicians are increasingly asked to waive their right to due process in standard contracts through staffing companies. This vulnerability not only leads to increased physician anxiety, but could cause a doctor to second guess themselves and ultimately make judgments based, not on what is best for the patient, but on fear of retribution. These situations leave both physician and patient at risk.

ACOEP is proud to stand with colleagues in emergency medicine and Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) and Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-36) who have put forth legislation to protect physicians’ rights to due process.

According to a statement from both congressmen, “Due process, a guaranteed right under the US Constitution, is the foundation of one’s employment status across many industries. Physicians receive due process rights from a number of sources including Medicare, as a condition of participation, and the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986. However, these laws only afford due process rights to physicians directly employed by the hospital.”

Click here to read the statement in its entirety, which includes a testimonial from ACOEP President Christine Giesa, DO, FACOEP. This information is also featured in some local news outlets.

Earlier this year, Dr. Giesa and ACOEP stood alongside AAEM in advocating to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to protect the rights of emergency physicians. Nine leading groups cosigned a letter calling for action, including AAEM/RSA, ACEP, ACMT, AOA, CORD, EMRA, and SAEM. Click here to read a statement by AAEM on this initiative.

We encourage you to reach out to your local congressperson to support this legislation. A simple phone call takes only minutes and has a direct impact on your work, your patients, and the direction of healthcare. Click here to find your representative.

An example of what to say to your representative’s office is, “Hello, my name is_____________, and I am a voter from the _____________ zip code. I am calling to encourage the congressperson to speak out in support of Congressmen Collins and Ruiz’s legislation H.R. 6372 promoting physician rights due process.”