The physician and resource allocation.

Even though there is substantial pressure on physicians to significantly reduce the amount of public monies spent on geriatric health care, it is improper for physicians to let financial concerns take precedence over their obligations to care for the patients who seek their services and assistance. The doctor/patient relationship demands that the physician be faithful to the cause of meeting the needs of patients. This faith is kept by taking all necessary steps to respect and promote the autonomy of patients. This is best done by adhering to a commitment of pursuing a process of communication with patients that leads to the attainment of informed consent or refusal from patients. Two consequences likely to follow are protection of many patients from protracted, miserable deaths because of less use of invasive medical procedures, and subsequent financial savings from this lower degree of use.