Paterson Aims At Safety Of Patients

Physicians in New York would face greater scrutiny from state health officials under legislation proposed yesterday by Governor Paterson.

The proposal would aim to increase patient safety by authorizing the Health Department's Office of Professional Medical Conduct to routinely monitor medical malpractice claims and payouts, and to publicize malpractice charges when they are served on a physician.

The legislation also proposes a number of infection control measures.

According to a spokeswoman for the state's Department of Health, Diane Mathis, the legislation stems in part from a medical malpractice insurance task force convened by Governor Spitzer last year. The infection-related proposals were partly a reaction to the case of a Long Island anesthesiologist, Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, who was accused of reusing syringes and infecting at least one person with hepatitis.

Yesterday, the chairman of the Assembly's Health Committee, Richard Gottfried, said lawmakers are likely to pass some version of the bill before the end of the legislative session. The chairman of the state Senate's Health Committee, Kemp Hannon, has introduced his own bill to increase patient safety.

Some physician advocates questioned whether Mr. Paterson's proposal could damage the reputations and careers of doctors who are wrongfully accused.