Within the physicians' services industry, doctors of osteopathy are the only "full line" competitors of medical doctors. Given the current interest in merger of the two schools of practice, this Article examines the benefits of having an independent osteopathic school. These benefits include: (1) reduction of the monopoly power of medical doctors in malpractice litigation, fee negotiations with third party payors and the formulation of health policy; (2) greater satisfaction of consumer desires; and (3) diversity and innovation in physicians' training and methods of practice. The Article concludes that society has an interest in discouraging merger of the two groups; osteopathy should be maintained as an independent school of practice. To this end, society should carefully consider the impact of legislation and regulatory policies that may have the unintended effect of eliminating osteopathy as an independent competitor.

中文翻译：

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医师服务行业内的竞争：整骨疗法和对抗疗法

在医生服务行业，整骨医生是医生唯一的“全线”竞争者。鉴于目前对两家实践学校合并的兴趣，本文探讨了拥有独立的整骨疗法学校的好处。这些好处包括：（1）减少医生在医疗事故诉讼、与第三方支付者的费用谈判以及制定医疗政策方面的垄断权；(2) 更大程度地满足消费者的需求；(3) 医师培训和执业方法的多样性和创新性。文章的结论是，阻止这两个群体的合并符合社会利益；整骨疗法应该作为一门独立的实践学校来维持。为此，