title: Gatekeepers no more: family practitioners as power brokers and fence wanderers.
abstract: The term gatekeeping in the context of primary care is neither controversial nor appropriate; it cannot be used to describe the complex interactions between general practitioners, their patients and the complexities of the evolving health system, euphemistically called health reform. Advocacy has now become paramount if general practice is to survive as a discipline in the face of competing economic forces eroding total patient care.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Frost
mesh_terms: D016265:Conflict of Interest; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*