title: Cost constraints as a malpractice defense.
abstract: Cost-containment pressures impose fiscal responsibilities upon physicians that can conflict with their fiduciary commitment to patients. Should the law permit health care providers to adjust standards of care according to patients' financial resources? The legal concept of "rebuttable presumption" should be used to reconceive the traditional requirement of a uniform standard of care.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Morreim
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D030881:Disclosure; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009014:Morals; D010819:Physician's Role; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012380:Role; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment