March 2016 • Ophthalmology Business 15
by John Banja, PhD
Optometrist to ophthalmologist referrals:
ethical and legal perspectives
In response to this case, I inter-
viewed two professional acquaintances,
Geoffrey Broocker, MD, a recently
retired ophthalmologist from Emory
University, Atlanta, and Tara Ady-
anthaya, JD, MBE, a bioethicist and
healthcare attorney who practices with
Morris, Manning and Martin, LLP, At-
lanta. Here's what they had to say.
An interview with
Dr. Broocker
JB: Dr. Broocker, is this kind of
referral arrangement common in
ophthalmology?
ter" patients, i.e., well-insured,
healthier, or with fewer or no
comorbidities, to its co-owned
practice, while referring less
healthy, older, more acutely ill,
and visually impaired patients
to the other two practices in
town. This has obviously soured
relationships between those
latter two provider groups and
Cosmic, but Cosmic continues
the practice. Is this legal? Is it
ethical? Can the disgruntled
practices just refuse to see
Cosmic-referred patients?
S
ince I began writing in
Ophthalmology Business
and
EyeWorld, I've received
an occasional inquiry
or correspondence from an ophthal-
mologist on an ethical dilemma that
he or she has encountered. Recently,
I received this one, which is slightly
modified from the original:
Cosmic Optometry is a co-own-
er of one of the three oph-
thalmology practices in town.
Cosmic has seemingly gotten
into the habit of referring "bet-
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