Is Deregulating the Medical Profession Just What the Doctor Ordered?

The United States faces a shortage of medical providers. In this chapter, we argue that this shortage has been caused by stringent regulation of the medical profession. We summarize physician regulation in the United States and provide comparisons with physician regulations in other developed nations. We then argue that occupational licensing in its present form is costly and insufficient to protect patients. We conclude by presenting alternative ways to regulate the medical profession that will be less costly and will not compromise the quality of patient care.