Ethical and legal implications of managed care.

This article addresses several ethical, regulatory, and legal issues in managed care with attention to recent court cases that focus on physicians' responsibility, fiduciary duty, and the impact that these legal decisions have on physicians practicing in a managed care environment. Discussion of the impact of changes in the control of decision-making processes for physicians, the use of managed care protocols, restriction of resources, and gatekeeping systems are addressed as are the specific duties and obligations of physicians to their patients.