Main description:

This book addresses the fundamental conflict of interest that physicians face in their daily work lives between the ethics of proper medical care versus the demands of standard business practices. However, unlike other books of this sort, this one places direct responsibility for this ethical dilemma upon the shoulders of physicians themselves. Taking ethical, legal, and business perspectives into account, the book traces the historically evolving response of American physicians to ever-increasing business interests within the profession. These financial concerns now have become intrinsic not only to the practice of medicine but seemingly also to the character of a growing segment of its practitioners. The book offers a plea for a change to a more socialized healthcare system as used in other advanced nations.

Contents:

Chapter 1. "Too Conscientious" - Marketplace Realities Confront Medical Professionalism.- Chapter 2. The Rise and Fall of the American Medical.- Chapter 3. Twentieth Century Evolution of American Medical Business Interests: Insurance, Funding, and the Seeds of Federal Managed Care.- Chapter 4. As American Society Evolves so Does Medicine: Autonomy, Informed Consent, and Liability.- Chapter 5. Open for Business: New Management for the "Doctors' Workshop".- Chapter 6. Welcome to Medicine, Inc.: Professionalism v. Production.- Chapter 7. Physicians and Businessmen: Contradictions in Health Care.- Chapter 8. Autonomy, Agency and Advocacy: Seeking Medicolegal Alliance.- Chapter 9. Medicine and the Courts.- Chapter 10. Financial Conflicts of Interest in Medicine: Effects and Theories of Causation.- Chapter 11. The Internal Morality of Medicine: A Matter of Faith.- Chapter 12. Social and Distributive Justice in Health Care.- Chapter 13. An Uncertain Future for Medicine: Business or Profession?.