New York doctors race to abide by in-office surgery law

New York legislation called the Patient Protection Bill was signed into law by Gov. Eliot Spitzer in July 2007 and is intended to ensure high safety standards in offices when surgery and other invasive procedures are conducted with more than minimal sedation. It is the first time that New York State will regulate office-based surgeries. Doctors doing surgery will be required to have their offices accredited by one of three existing agencies by July 14, or face penalties for professional misconduct if they continue to perform operations.