ETHICAL AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF MANAGED CARE

This article addresses several ethical, regulatory, and legal issues i n managed care with attention to recent court cases that focus on phys icians' responsibility, fiduciary duty, and the impact that these lega l decisions have on physicians practicing in a managed care environmen t. Discussion of the impact of changes in the control of decision-maki ng processes for physicians, the use of managed care protocols, restri ction of resources, and gatekeeping systems are addressed as are the s pecific duties and obligations of physicians to their patients. (C) 19 97 by Elsevier Science Inc.