Medscape Physician Compensation Survey shows income declines

Medscape’s Physician Compensation Survey reported last week that physician income declined in general so far in 2012, although the top-earning specialties remained stable. In 2012, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons topped the list at $315,000, followed by cardiologists at $314,000, anesthesiologists at $309,000 and urologists at $309,000. The lowest paying specialties in 2012's survey were pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine. The largest declines were in general surgery, down 12 percent; orthopedic surgery, down 10 percent; radiology, down 10 percent; and emergency medicine, down 8 percent.