The Hospital medical staff
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Hospital medical staffs are beginning to deal with the sensitive problem of the disruptive physician. Courts in 11 states already have allowed hospitals to dismiss physicians who display unprofessional behavior. Hospitals and medical staffs, however, must be careful to document a correlation between a physician's disruptive behavior and interference with patient care.
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The physician's role in planning at both the community and the medical staff level has become increasingly complex in recent years. A recent AMA seminar discussed some of the ways that physicians can participate in HSAs as well as deal with some of the planning problems confronting the medical staff organization.
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An attorney explains the state laws designed to remove intoxicated drivers from the road by suspending their driving privilege. He describes the role the hospital emergency department plays in performing tests to determine blood alcohol level, and suggests that hospitals establish procedures for administration of such tests.
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The principle of informed consent involves the changing nature of the physician-patient relationship, decisions as to the amount of information that should be given to a patient, and analysis of the meaning of the term "freely given consent". Discussion of these issues leads into practical suggestions for developing manageable office and hospital policies that allow physicians to take advantage of new cooperative relationships.