Medicine and the law.

Abstract

1. Public and private benefits offering security for life if the need is of sufficient magnitude inhibits optimum restoration of the patient. 2. The physician frequently does not recognise nor is concerned with the premorbid attitude, goals or life-style of the patient and does not effectively deal with the future temporal needs of the patient, thereby contributing to less than satisfactory levels of restoration. 3. The law and its objectives as practised by the lawyers often develop into an intense adversary posture, threatening the security of the patient and jeopardising a satisfactory level of restoration. 4. Administration of the law by judicial and quasi-judicial judges and juries is manipulated to give the highest award possible, therefore the plaintiff will not be restored to the satisfactory level of which he is capable. 5. There is hostility and little communication between physician and lawyer again contributing to the patient's failure in restoration. 6. The adversary system is accused of creating conditions contributing to unsatisfactory restoration but can be utilised as a motivational force with innovative and creative thinking on the part of the professions to meet the real needs and goals for security of the patient and motivate his restoration. 7. Communication and role-playing exchange between the professions and the patient as his condition will require, promote a successful and acceptable restoration. 8. The counsel involved develop the process for prompt financial disposition without involving the patient in the adversary process or in trial.