title: Legal and ethical standards in geriatric medicine.
abstract: Several examples of physicians' ethical and legal responsibilities toward older individuals desiring medical care are discussed. The focus is on the older person's ethical and legal right to access to medical services, and on the extent of corresponding obligations of physicians to actuate and fulfill the older person's access rights. The impact of current cost constraints in carrying out these obligations is also discussed.
mesh_terms: D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000592:standards*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D028681:Moral Obligations; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations