AMA Issues Principles For Physician Employment

AMA Principles for Physician Employment.  The American Medical Association.

Doctors Warned on 'Divided Loyalty' by Robert Pear.  The New York Times.  December 28 2012.

The original source document of the policy and a news report about the report are linked above.  The AMA addresses the potential conflicts of interest that can arise as medical practices are bought by hospitals.  The purpose of the statement is to protect the professional autonomy of doctors.  From 2000 to 2010 the American Hospital Association says that the number of doctors employed by hospitals grew by 32 percent, to 212,000.  The AMA also addresses non-compete agreements which are sometimes required for situations when a doctor leaves the employ of a hospital.