New-York tribune., 1895-10-20
EXTRA FEES FOR CITY DOCTORS.
A CHARGE OF $50 FOR COMMITTING AN INsANI
WOMAN TO \ PRIVATE ASYLUM WHAT
THE PHYSICIANS SAY.

charge against the two official city examiners
for lunacy, Dr. Alien Fitch, No. lo2 West Thirty
fourth-st and Dr. Henry v Wildman. No. los
West Ninety -fourth-st for requiring fees from the
relatives OF insane patients committed to private
asyuins has recently come to light. Drs. Fitch and
Wildman both In the employ of the city and
receive respectively annua, salary OF 100 and
81 600 for examining patients brought to the insane
pavilion of Bellevue Hospta their duties being pre-
scrlbed by codesof rules sanctioned by the Com
mlssIoners OF Charities and Correction
About two weeks ago insane woman, whose
mama s not mentioned through consideration for her
family was taken by her husband and detective
TO Bellevue for examination and as the family
desired that she be paced In a private institution
Dr. Fitch agreed TO grant this request on condition
that he should receive fee OF $50 for making out
the papcrs for such commitment The amount
wa was paid and the patient sent to Dr. Kindred's
private Home" at Darien, Conn, Dr. Fitch telling
he family OF the insane woman that the $50 was
10 e be divided between himself and his associate
This act OF Dr. Fitch caused considerable un-
favorable comment on the part OF certain parties
who il il alleged. have ventilated the matter as the
result OF feelings OF Jealousy entertained by them
against the city examiners M, -, ~. r,,,.A
a Tribune reporter called at the office OF pr Fitch
cirv temporari.y owing to III health. Drs Wild
man and Kindred were both there however, me
;o exna.n his position in the matter. Dr. Wildman
said: n the case referred to the patient stood 10
ns me tient m coming to US for medical advice Most of
The natients thst we called upon 10 examine
at bellevue are paupers. and are committed 10
manner institutions without charge In the case re-
ferred TO the patient could have gone 10 the asylum
M Biackwell's Island and afterward have been
transferred to a private asylum without charge
The payment OF the fee on the part OF the lami.y
was purely voluntary and was given In order mat
the patient might be sent TO pr.Vate h on
without the publicity which might otherwlse nave
attached to the commitment We send prooa,1S,y2 "a
hundred patients 70 the ctys asylums Wltnout
charge where we send one 20 private lnsltutio
and receive q fee. In all the time that nave oeen
offciay connected with Bellevue Hospi'a. nave
never received a fee OF more than $50 -
Dr Kindred said: Il have been Dr. Fltch ten
art for the last few months, and dur.ng this ume
have received fewer patients al my Iohnectcut
asylum than did previous to the % ume nj SneT Dr
Fitch uersonally. | was present wheh Dr ,ritcn
made the ARRANGEMENT with the husband OF me ~ N
sar1 woman and heard the doctor say 10 his
cIXt that he was not compelled 10 employ MIN In
the case but was at perfect Liberty TO 20 TO any
other nual.fei medical examiner.
II r. Porter president OF the Board OF Charities
and CORE ction was seen al the cambridge Hotel
YESTERDAY He said: The case referred 10 does not
affect our department AT all These DOCTORS re-
ceiye a very small salary for Their services and
thew earn II all IT, IN this case, The Zee charged
by pr Fitch excessive. should nave Investl-
gated the matter had It been brought 10 my at
fent.on and the money would have been refunded.
This is the only service IN connection with the de-
partment that the doctors can charge for. and