title: Physicians and patients in transition.
abstract: Despite growing consumerism and skepticism about authority in the culture as a whole, most patients continue to be pliant. If there is a serious threat to physician autonomy, it is more likely to come from third-party payers and new forms of medical practice, particularly the rise of for-profit hospital chains, than from patients. Though physicians are restless, they will learn to adapt to the new conditions of practice.
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D004470:Economics, Medical; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008318:Malpractice; D010358:Patient Participation; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011364:Professional Practice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012945:Social Values