Consumerism: do patients have power in health care?

In market rhetoric NHS patients are considered to be consumers of health care. This article considers what attributes and rights consumers have and analyses the possible forces limiting and/or driving their accedence into present day health care. While the term patient is associated with passivity, the term consumer conjure up notions of rights, power and empowerment. Consumer power may take two forms: the ability to make choices and legal rights. Yet within the NHS there are many forces that attempt to oppose and restrain consumer power.