LEGAL ISSUES FOR MEDICAL CARE UNIT

This paper addresses several legal issues in Hospital Administrators withattention to recent court cases that focus on physicians' responsibility, fiduciary duty andthe impact that these legal decisions have on physicians practicing in a managed careenvironment. Discussion of the impact of changes in the control of decision makingprocesses for physicians, the use of managed care protocols, restriction of resources andgate keeping systems are addressed as are the specific duties and obligations ofphysicians to their patients.