RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Opinion: redefining the role of the physician in laboratory medicine in the context of emerging technologies, personalised medicine and patient autonomy (‘4P medicine’) JF Journal of Clinical Pathology JO J Clin Pathol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists SP 191 OP 197 DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2017-204734 VO 72 IS 3 A1 Matthias Orth A1 Maria Averina A1 Stylianos Chatzipanagiotou A1 Gilbert Faure A1 Alexander Haushofer A1 Vesna Kusec A1 Augusto Machado A1 Siraj A Misbah A1 Wytze Oosterhuis A1 Kari Pulkki A1 Patrick J Twomey A1 Eberhard Wieland YR 2019 UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/72/3/191.abstract AB The role of clinical pathologists or laboratory-based physicians is being challenged on several fronts—exponential advances in technology, increasing patient autonomy exercised in the right to directly request tests and the use of non-medical specialists as substitutes. In response, clinical pathologists have focused their energies on the pre-analytical and postanalytical phases of Laboratory Medicine thus emphasising their essential role in individualised medical interpretation of complex laboratory results. Across the European Union, the role of medical doctors is enshrined in the Medical Act. This paper highlights the relevance of this act to patient welfare and the need to strengthen training programmes to prevent an erosion in the quality of Laboratory Medicine provided to patients and their physicians.