BBC News Online examines the arguments.

What does the BMA say about the contract?

When the framework of the consultant contract was published in June, the BMA hailed it as "a good deal" for doctors.

Dr Peter Hawker, its chief negotiator, described it as "fair to consultants, and fair to the NHS".

The BMA said the deal would ensure consultants were paid for the overtime they worked and would give them time to carry out research and paperwork.

Dr Hawker even played down the size of the proposed pay increases saying the "NHS is still getting a bargain".

What is the government's line?

Ministers also backed the new contract. Health Secretary Alan Milburn said it would benefit consultants and patients.

The government played down the fact that it had backed away from its original proposal of banning newly-qualified consultants from treating patients privately.

Ministers said new restrictions, which would see consultants having to work extra hours in the NHS before being allowed to treat patients privately, were the best way forward.

They also saw the introduction of more flexible hours as a way of cutting waiting lists and giving NHS managers better control over doctors.

What are ordinary doctors saying?

Many hospital consultants across the country have come out against the contract.

They objected to plans to give managers a greater say over how they work, saying it threatened their professionalism and independence.

In particular, they opposed proposals to give managers the power to force them to work evenings and weekends without extra pay.

They dismissed both the BMA and the Department of Health's claim that they would receive significantly more pay.

Proposed pay increases range from between 9% and 24% depending on the age and experience of doctors.

What went wrong?

The BMA organised more than 100 road shows across the UK to 'sell' the contract.

However, the reaction was more often hostile than positive. This appears to have taken the BMA and the Department of Health by surprise.

The BMA case was not helped by the fact that its junior doctors committee has been strongly against the deal from the start, saying it gives managers too much power and is not family friendly.

A leaked NHS document to hospital managers urging them to push ahead with weekend and evening work and to only pay extra to the "deserving few" also caused anger.

What happens now?

The BMA has said it wants to re-open negotiations to resolve the issues over management control.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has so far refused saying the contract cannot be re-negotiated.

He has suggested the contract could be introduced anyway in parts of the UK and at individual trusts.

Both sides are deadlocked. However, the government will need to have consultants on side if it wants to push its reforms through.