Autonomy x Accountability: A delicate balance

Autonomy vs. accountability: A delicate balance
AMA Leader Commentary. By Ronald M. Davis, MD, Aug. 20, 2007.
AMA LEADER COMMENTARY
A few words about current events in medical practice

SEE ARCHIVES
A message to all physicians from AMA President Ronald M. Davis, MD.
OK, let's begin with the obvious -- physicians are increasingly unhappy in their medical practices. If you want confirmatory data, you can find them in the Physician Morale Survey conducted by the American College of Physician Executives in July 2006. Among 1,200 physicians across the country who responded to the survey, 46% rated their "overall morale as a physician working in U.S. health care" as five or lower on a scale of one (very low morale) to 10 (very high). When asked to judge the morale of physicians they supervise or work with, 59% gave a score of five or lower./.../