Knowing what we mean by wanting autonomy

Central to decisions regarding merging your medical group into another organization is the concern for loss of autonomy. Merging the vehicle from which the physician's livelihood is derived demands careful consideration and clear understanding of what will be gained and what will be lost. In the marriage of any two parties, whether individuals or businesses, some autonomy must be forfeited or the marriage won't work. Understanding what autonomy means to the individuals or businesses is essential before the forfeiture of any autonomy can be assessed. The author suggests autonomy can be defined in three levels, each building on the one before and each carrying different levels of importance to those considering a marriage or merger with another. Understanding these levels, and what importance one places on each, will make the decision process easier to address by both parties in the merger.