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Working Without Rights: Recognizing Housestaff Unionization--An Argument For The Reversal Of "Cedars-Sinai Medical Center And St. Clare's Hospital", Jennifer A. Shorb

Vanderbilt Law Review

Increased competition in today's health care industry has contributed to the industry's growing emphasis on cost-containment. Concerns about this focus on the bottom line have motivated some caregivers to attempt to improve working conditions and the quality of patient care through unionization. One such group, "housestaff' or "house officers," is comprised of hospital interns, residents, and fellows. These individuals are medical school graduates seeking additional training for licensure and specialization. Housestaff are often overworked, underpaid, and forced to deal with working conditions that adversely affect patient care. Such conditions force many house officers to join union organizations and seek the …