Proponents pushing for higher licensing standards for single operating room surgical facilities in New Jersey are disappointed by a recent veto from Gov. Chris Christie.

The bill was put together in part from the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, which has questioned the safety of the states unlicensed surgery centers. The bill would have required all surgery centers to be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Advocates were pushing for this to prevent potential surgical errors and negligence by these types of centers. Currently, the health department does not license single-room centers.

When the legislature is not in session, the governor has the right to use a pocket veto to kill the bill, which is what happened. Proponents of the bill are going to continue to try and push this legislation and will plan to meet with the health department commissioner to iron out any issues and attempt to introduce new legislation. They feel that licensure is important and critical for patient care.

Licensing of these types of centers will help protect individuals from potential medical malpractice issues. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel that you did not receive proper care for a life-threatening injury or condition, you should contact an attorney that specializes in medical malpractice. The attorney understands how medical malpractice cases can be sensitive and will know how to investigate your case, review your information, and give you advice on the best alternatives for your particular situation.

Source: Outpatient Surgery, "N.J. Gov. Vetoes Single-Room Surgery Change," Jan. 18, 2012