[The so-called medical team system in surgery, an alternative to hierarchy?]

Since some years representatives of the "Bundesärztekammer" (German Board of physicians)--induced too by the German parliament of physicians--demanded the establishment of "team-work-models" as a new form of administration of our clinical departments. There are many reasons argueing against a reformation of the present structures like economical considerations, a well-organized education and especially patient-care-management. Only scientifically-based evidence could justify a change of the well-approved head-physician-system in Germany.