content: <PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 1996
  
                                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                              -------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                              -------------------------
  
                                   SELFCARE, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          Delaware                                       04-3164127
  (State of Incorporation)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
  
                                 200 PROSPECT STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02154
                                   (617) 647-3900
  
  
     (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                     Registrant's principal executive offices)
  
  
                     SELFCARE, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
  
                              (Full Title of the Plans)
  
                        ------------------------------------
  
  
                                    RON ZWANZIGER
                        CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                   SELFCARE, INC.
                                 200 PROSPECT STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02154
                                   (617) 647-3900
  
   (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                               of agent for service)
  
                            ----------------------------
  
                                   With a copy to:
                                Stephen W. Carr, P.C.
                             GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP
                                   Exchange Place
                                   53 State Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02109-2881
                                   (617) 570-1000
  
                            -----------------------------
  
  
  <TABLE>
                                            CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  <CAPTION>
  
  ==========================================================================================================================
  Title of Securities Being          Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering  Proposed Maximum Aggregate       Amount of
          Registered                Registered (1)       Price Per Share             Offering Price         Registration Fee
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  <S>                               <C>                     <C>                      <C>                        <C>      
  Common Stock, par value $.001     250,000 shares          $14.00(2)                $3,500,000.00              $1,060.61
  per share                    
  ==========================================================================================================================
  <FN>
  
  (1)      Plus such additional number of shares as may be required pursuant to the Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase
           Plan in the event of a stock dividend, reverse stock split, split-up, recapitalization or other similar event.
  
  (2)      This estimate is based on the average of the high and low sales prices on the American Stock Exchange of the
           Common Stock of Selfcare, Inc. on December 11, 1996 pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of
           1933, as amended, solely for purposes of determining the registration fee.
  </TABLE>
  
  ================================================================================
  
  <PAGE>   2
  
  
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 3.        Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
                 -----------------------------------------------
  
          Selfcare, Inc. (the "Company") hereby incorporates by reference the 
  documents listed in (a) through (c) below, which have previously been filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
          (a)    The Company's prospectus, containing audited financial statements
                 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, filed with the
                 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
                 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                 "Securities Act"), on August 6, 1996;
  
          (b)    All other reports filed since August 5, 1996 pursuant to Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
                 (the "Exchange Act"); and
  
          (c)    The description of the Company's common stock contained in its
                 Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and
                 Exchange Commission on June 14, 1996, as amended, under Section
                 12 of the Exchange Act and any amendments or reports filed for
                 the purpose of updating such description.
  
          In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
  15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
  hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
  that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
  incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents.
  
  Item 4.        Description of Securities.
                 -------------------------
  
          Not Applicable.
  
  Item 5.        Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
                 --------------------------------------
  
          The legality of the shares of Common Stock registered by the Company
  hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP,
  Boston, Massachusetts. The president of a professional corporation which is a
  partner in the firm of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP beneficially owns an
  aggregate of approximately 40,664 shares of Common Stock and warrants to
  purchase up to 5,278 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.53 per
  share.
  
  Item 6.        Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
                 -----------------------------------------
  
          The Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision permitted by
  Delaware law that generally eliminates the personal liability of directors for
  monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty, including breaches
  involving negligence or gross negligence in business combinations, unless the
  director has breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith,
  engaged in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a dividend
  or approved a stock repurchase in violation of the Delaware General Corporation
  Law or obtained an improper personal benefit. This provision does not alter a
  Director's liability under the federal securities laws. In addition, this
  provision does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as an
  injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty. The Company believes
  that this provision will assist the Company in attracting and retaining
  qualified individuals to serve as directors.
  
          The By-laws of the Company provide that directors and officers of the
  Company shall be, and in the discretion of the Board of Directors, non-officer
  employees may be, indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by
  Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all
  expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with service for or
  on behalf of the Company. The By-laws of the Company also provide that the right
  of directors and officers to indemnification shall be a contract right and shall
  not be exclusive of any other right now possessed or hereafter acquired under
  any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>   3
  
  
  
          The Company carries directors' and officers' liability insurance
  covering its directors and officers.
  
  Item 7.        Exemption from Registration Claimed.
                 -----------------------------------
  
          Not applicable.
  
  Item 8.        Exhibits.
                 --------
  
          The following is a complete list of exhibits filed or incorporated by
  reference as part of this registration statement.
  
  Exhibits
  --------
  
       *4.1      Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
        5.1      Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP as to the legality of the
                 securities being registered.
       23.1      Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP (to be included in 
                 Exhibit 5.1).
       23.2      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
       24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on page 4 of this registration 
                 statement).
  
        *        Incorporated by reference to the relevant exhibit to Selfcare, 
                 Inc.'s registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-4830-NY)
                 as filed with the Commission on May 17, 1996.
  
  Item 9.        Undertakings.
                 ------------
  
          (a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
  
                        (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                 are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                 statement:
  
                               (i)    To include any prospectus required by 
                        Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
  
                               (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                        events arising after the effective date of the
                        registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
                        amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                        information set forth in the registration statement; and
  
                               (iii)  To include any material information with
                        respect to the plan of distribution not previously
                        disclosed in the registration statement or any material
                        change to such information in the registration statement;
  
                        (2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                 under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                 shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
                 the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                 securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                 fide offering thereof; and
  
                        (3)    To remove from registration by means of a
                 post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
                 which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  
          (b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for 
                 purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
                 each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each
                 filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
                 Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
                 reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
                 new registration statement relating to the securities offered
                 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
                 be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
          (c)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
                 the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
                 controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
                 provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
                 the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
                 indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
                 Securities Act, and
  
  
  
                                          2
  
  
  <PAGE>   4
  
  
  
                 is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
                 indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
                 by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
                 officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
                 defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
                 director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
                 securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
                 opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
                 precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
                 question whether such indemnification by it is against public
                 policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
                 the final adjudication of such issue.
  
  
  
                                          3
  
  
  <PAGE>   5
  
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
  of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
  statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on December
  13, 1996.
  
                                        SELFCARE, INC.
  
                                        By: /s/ Ron Zwanziger 
                                            --------------------------------------
                                            Ron Zwanziger
                                            President and Chief Executive Officer
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and
  directors of Selfcare, Inc. hereby severally constitute Ron Zwanziger, Anthony
  H. Hall and Kenneth D. Legg, and each of them singly, our true and lawful
  attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and
  in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement filed
  herewith and any and all amendments to said registration statement, and
  generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers
  and directors to enable Selfcare, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the
  Securities Act of 1933 and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange
  Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed
  by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any
  and all amendments thereto.
  
  <TABLE>
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  <CAPTION>
  
                SIGNATURE                                   CAPACITY                                     DATE
                ---------                                   --------                                     ----
  
  <S>                                         <C>                                                  <C>
  /s/ Ron Zwanziger                           Director, President and                              December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------        Chief Executive Officer       
  Ron Zwanziger                               (Principal Executive Officer) 
  
  
  /s/ Anthony H. Hall                         Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial         December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------        Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
  Anthony H. Hall                     
  
  
  /s/ Jonathan J. Fleming                     Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Jonathan J. Fleming
  
  
  /s/ Carol R. Goldberg                       Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Carol R. Goldberg
  
  
  /s/ Edward B. Roberts                       Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Edward B. Roberts
  
  
  /s/ Willard Lee Umphrey                     Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Willard Lee Umphrey
  
  
  /s/ John Levy                               Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  John Levy
  
  
  /s/ Peter Townsend                          Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Peter Townsend
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
                                          4
  
  
  <PAGE>   6
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.                        Description                             Page*
  -----------                        -----------                             -----
  
     *4.1       Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  
      5.1       Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP as to the 
                legality of the securities being registered.
  
     23.1       Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP (to be included
                in Exhibit 5.1).
  
     23.2       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
  
     24.1       Powers of Attorney (included on page 4 of this 
                registration statement).
  
  
  
  -------------------------
  
  *        Incorporated by reference to the relevant exhibit to Selfcare, Inc.'s 
           registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-4830-NY) as filed 
           with the Commission on May 17, 1996.
  
  *        Refers to sequentially numbered copy.
  
  
  
                                          5
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SELFCARE INC", "cik": "0000915901", "assigned-sic": "3826", "irs-number": "043164127", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-17855", "film-number": "96680704"}, "business-address": {"street1": "200 PROSPECT STREET", "city": "WALTHAM", "state": "MA", "zip": "02154-3457"}}
text: 1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 1996
  
                                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                              -------------------------
  
                                      FORM S-8
                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                        UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                              -------------------------
  
                                   SELFCARE, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
          Delaware                                       04-3164127
  (State of Incorporation)                 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
  
                                 200 PROSPECT STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02154
                                   (617) 647-3900
  
     (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                     Registrant's principal executive offices)
  
                     SELFCARE, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
  
                              (Full Title of the Plans)
  
                        ------------------------------------
  
                                    RON ZWANZIGER
                        CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                   SELFCARE, INC.
                                 200 PROSPECT STREET
                            WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02154
                                   (617) 647-3900
  
   (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                               of agent for service)
  
                            ----------------------------
  
                                   With a copy to:
                                Stephen W. Carr, P.C.
                             GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP
                                   Exchange Place
                                   53 State Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02109-2881
                                   (617) 570-1000
  
                            -----------------------------
  
                                            CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  ==========================================================================================================================
  Title of Securities Being          Amount to be   Proposed Maximum Offering  Proposed Maximum Aggregate       Amount of
          Registered                Registered (1)       Price Per Share             Offering Price         Registration Fee
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Common Stock, par value $.001     250,000 shares          $14.00(2)                $3,500,000.00              $1,060.61
  per share                    
  ==========================================================================================================================
  (1)      Plus such additional number of shares as may be required pursuant to the Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase
           Plan in the event of a stock dividend, reverse stock split, split-up, recapitalization or other similar event.
  
  (2)      This estimate is based on the average of the high and low sales prices on the American Stock Exchange of the
           Common Stock of Selfcare, Inc. on December 11, 1996 pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of
           1933, as amended, solely for purposes of determining the registration fee.
  ================================================================================
  2
  
                                       PART II
  
                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 3.        Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
                 -----------------------------------------------
  
          Selfcare, Inc. (the "Company") hereby incorporates by reference the 
  documents listed in (a) through (c) below, which have previously been filed with
  the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  
          (a)    The Company's prospectus, containing audited financial statements
                 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, filed with the
                 Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
                 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                 "Securities Act"), on August 6, 1996;
  
          (b)    All other reports filed since August 5, 1996 pursuant to Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
                 (the "Exchange Act"); and
  
          (c)    The description of the Company's common stock contained in its
                 Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Securities and
                 Exchange Commission on June 14, 1996, as amended, under Section
                 12 of the Exchange Act and any amendments or reports filed for
                 the purpose of updating such description.
  
          In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Securities and
  Exchange Commission by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
  15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
  hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
  that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
  incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof
  from the date of filing of such documents.
  
  Item 4.        Description of Securities.
                 -------------------------
  
          Not Applicable.
  
  Item 5.        Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
                 --------------------------------------
  
          The legality of the shares of Common Stock registered by the Company
  hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP,
  Boston, Massachusetts. The president of a professional corporation which is a
  partner in the firm of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP beneficially owns an
  aggregate of approximately 40,664 shares of Common Stock and warrants to
  purchase up to 5,278 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.53 per
  share.
  
  Item 6.        Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
                 -----------------------------------------
  
          The Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision permitted by
  Delaware law that generally eliminates the personal liability of directors for
  monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty, including breaches
  involving negligence or gross negligence in business combinations, unless the
  director has breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith,
  engaged in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a dividend
  or approved a stock repurchase in violation of the Delaware General Corporation
  Law or obtained an improper personal benefit. This provision does not alter a
  Director's liability under the federal securities laws. In addition, this
  provision does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as an
  injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty. The Company believes
  that this provision will assist the Company in attracting and retaining
  qualified individuals to serve as directors.
  
          The By-laws of the Company provide that directors and officers of the
  Company shall be, and in the discretion of the Board of Directors, non-officer
  employees may be, indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by
  Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all
  expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with service for or
  on behalf of the Company. The By-laws of the Company also provide that the right
  of directors and officers to indemnification shall be a contract right and shall
  not be exclusive of any other right now possessed or hereafter acquired under
  any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
  3
  
          The Company carries directors' and officers' liability insurance
  covering its directors and officers.
  
  Item 7.        Exemption from Registration Claimed.
                 -----------------------------------
  
          Not applicable.
  
  Item 8.        Exhibits.
                 --------
  
          The following is a complete list of exhibits filed or incorporated by
  reference as part of this registration statement.
  
  Exhibits
  --------
  
       *4.1      Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
        5.1      Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP as to the legality of the
                 securities being registered.
       23.1      Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP (to be included in 
                 Exhibit 5.1).
       23.2      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
       24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on page 4 of this registration 
                 statement).
  
        *        Incorporated by reference to the relevant exhibit to Selfcare, 
                 Inc.'s registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-4830-NY)
                 as filed with the Commission on May 17, 1996.
  
  Item 9.        Undertakings.
                 ------------
  
          (a)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
  
                        (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                 are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                 statement:
  
                               (i)    To include any prospectus required by 
                        Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
  
                               (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                        events arising after the effective date of the
                        registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
                        amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
                        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
                        information set forth in the registration statement; and
  
                               (iii)  To include any material information with
                        respect to the plan of distribution not previously
                        disclosed in the registration statement or any material
                        change to such information in the registration statement;
  
                        (2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                 under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment
                 shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
                 the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                 securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                 fide offering thereof; and
  
                        (3)    To remove from registration by means of a
                 post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
                 which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  
          (b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for 
                 purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
                 each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
                 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each
                 filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
                 Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by
                 reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
                 new registration statement relating to the securities offered
                 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
                 be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  
          (c)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
                 the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
                 controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
                 provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in
                 the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
                 indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
                 Securities Act, and
  
                                          2
  4
  
                 is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
                 indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
                 by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
                 officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
                 defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
                 director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
                 securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
                 opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
                 precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
                 question whether such indemnification by it is against public
                 policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
                 the final adjudication of such issue.
  
                                          3
  5
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
  of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
  statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on December
  13, 1996.
  
                                        SELFCARE, INC.
  
                                        By: /s/ Ron Zwanziger 
                                            --------------------------------------
                                            Ron Zwanziger
                                            President and Chief Executive Officer
  
                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  
          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and
  directors of Selfcare, Inc. hereby severally constitute Ron Zwanziger, Anthony
  H. Hall and Kenneth D. Legg, and each of them singly, our true and lawful
  attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and
  in our names in the capacities indicated below, the registration statement filed
  herewith and any and all amendments to said registration statement, and
  generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers
  and directors to enable Selfcare, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the
  Securities Act of 1933 and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange
  Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed
  by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and any
  and all amendments thereto.
  
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  SIGNATURE                                   CAPACITY                                     DATE
                ---------                                   --------                                     ----
  /s/ Ron Zwanziger                           Director, President and                              December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------        Chief Executive Officer       
  Ron Zwanziger                               (Principal Executive Officer) 
  
  /s/ Anthony H. Hall                         Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial         December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------        Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
  Anthony H. Hall                     
  
  /s/ Jonathan J. Fleming                     Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Jonathan J. Fleming
  
  /s/ Carol R. Goldberg                       Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Carol R. Goldberg
  
  /s/ Edward B. Roberts                       Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Edward B. Roberts
  
  /s/ Willard Lee Umphrey                     Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Willard Lee Umphrey
  
  /s/ John Levy                               Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  John Levy
  
  /s/ Peter Townsend                          Director                                             December 13, 1996
  ------------------------------------
  Peter Townsend
  4
  6
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit No.                        Description                             Page*
  -----------                        -----------                             -----
  
     *4.1       Selfcare, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  
      5.1       Opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP as to the 
                legality of the securities being registered.
  
     23.1       Consent of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar  LLP (to be included
                in Exhibit 5.1).
  
     23.2       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
  
     24.1       Powers of Attorney (included on page 4 of this 
                registration statement).
  
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  *        Incorporated by reference to the relevant exhibit to Selfcare, Inc.'s 
           registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-4830-NY) as filed 
           with the Commission on May 17, 1996.
  
  *        Refers to sequentially numbered copy.
  
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