WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., Wednesday dismissed some defendants from an antitrust suit against the nation's medical residency system.
Other motions to dismiss were denied.
A group of current and former medical residents filed the lawsuit against the Association of American Medical Colleges and the other organizations. The Washington-based AAMC represents all 125 medical universities and manages the National Resident Matching Program, which annually assigns fourth-year medical students to residency programs.
The residents contend the defendants conspired to "displace competition in the recruitment, hiring, employment and compensation of resident physicians," keeping resident salaries low and working conditions poor.
But U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman dismissed "with prejudice" some defendants from the suit, saying the residents failed to show the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, or Yeshiva University "participated in the conspiracy." An action dismissed "with prejudice" may never again be filed against the party.
The case against several others was dismissed "without prejudice."
