1.   There are a number of independent physicians and general practitioners who are more than happy to conduct interviews for the purpose of medico-legal reports.

2.   An independent physician reviewed the reports before the Texans received the official list, a process that would seem open to oversights.

3.   Antitrust guidelines, which he administers, already allow independent physicians to collaborate to help patients.

4.   Additionally, he said, if independent physicians want to examine the inmates, they must contact TDCJ institutional director Gary Johnson for permission.

5.   But Martin Gaynor, an economics professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, says a union of independent physicians would be unwise.

6.   Frustrated and frightened, she went to an independent physician.

7.   However, an independent physician had declared that it was benign.

8.   Medpartners managed several independent physician association networks, known as IPAs, while Phycor had none.

9.   The doctor must also consult one other independent physician before helping a patient to die.

10.   The federal investigation comes as the government steps up its examination of relationships between hospitals and independent physicians.