Housestaff activism: The emergence of patient-care demands

Collective Actions by Physicians that Do Not Endanger Patients

“…3,4 Arguably, justifications for physician strikes might be those related to patient welfare. 5,6,7 Historically, demands during strikes on behalf of patients have included issues of "resource allocations, staffing, patient-care management, patient selection, admission and treatment requirements, and organizational decision making." 8 A defense of a physician strike, under this argument, would require evidence that management actions had resulted in grossly substandard patient care, that the strikers had exhausted other reasonable means of seeking resolution, and that essential services were provided to present patients during the strike.…”