New Jersey physicians have threatened to strike if state lawmakers do not pass a medical malpractice insurance reform bill before Tuesday. The latest plan, called the "Patients First Act", calls for placing a cap of $250,000 on jury awards in non-permanent injury cases, limiting increases in insurance premiums, removing medical malpractice cases from the court room and putting them before independent mediators and shortening the statute of limitations to sue for defects caused during birth. The plan is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts.

According to New Jersey physicians, many doctors' insurance premiums have risen by more than 35 percent, allegedly due to large malpractice verdicts. Trial attorneys, however, believe the rise in rates is due to poor investment decisions made by insurance companies.

On Monday, over 800 doctors in Florida and Mississippi did not go to work to protest the malpractice insurance crisis. New Jersey has an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 practicing physicians.