Physician Autonomy and Health Care Reform
- Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD;
- Steven D. Pearson, MD, MSc
- Author Affiliations: Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Dr Emanuel); and Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Technology Assessment, Boston (Dr Pearson).
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REFORM
- HEALTH POLICY
- LEGISLATION AS TOPIC
- PATIENT-PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP
- PHYSICIANS
- PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY
- QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
Many physicians are distressed as they look toward the future. A recent survey of physicians reported that 65% thought the quality of health care will deteriorate in the future.1 Part of this malaise is driven by concerns that reforms contained in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will further erode physicians' autonomy.
On the contrary, the ACA has provisions that will mitigate the long-standing concern that payers determine what physicians can and cannot do and will instead enhance the role and authority of the medical profession. However, this possibility can only occur if physicians leverage the opportunities to shape and ensure effective implementation of new payment models proposed in the ACA.
What Is Physician Autonomy?
While physician autonomy is frequently invoked as an important value, there have been few attempts to specify its meaning. To many, physician autonomy means that physicians should have complete freedom to provide treatments for patients according to their best …
