The doctor—Third parties

Abstract

Whenever one assumes this position, the first and dominating concern becomes the presidential address. These presentations have covered a spectrum of interests including pure clinical science, historical review, and assessments of the role of the society in our professional lives. I have decided to speak to you about the dramatic changes which are occurring in our professional lives and offer some suggestions for the direction in which our thinking and activities should move. subject to be discussed is entitled The Doctor-Third Parties. (AM. J. OBSTET. GYNECOL. 149:624, 1984.) phrase party generally invokes an association with insurance payments for medical care. However, there are now a number of other third parties in the physician's life. These include committees which direct training and education, government, practice competitors and patterns, society and consumers, and the legal profession. I should like to comment upon all these elements or, as some might call them, intruders. I am sure that one of the reasons that many of us were attracted to medicine as a career is because of the freedom and independence it seemed to offer.