New-York tribune., 1907-09-14
its means.
MEDICAL FEES.

Every man who either gives or takes medicine
will be interested in the report that the High
Court of Germany has handed down decision
making it Illegal for physicians to establish by
mutual agreement 4 definite scale OF fees for
professional services. At first sight 1t might be
inferred from this that the Kaisers realm had
been threatened by a medical trust which was
seeking to wiring from the sick and suffering
every penny they could pay for the chance OF
being relieved. But there seem TO be no facts
TO confirm such conjecture 1t Is probably
easier to get first class medical assistance
cheap or free in Germany than anywhere else
in the world. The particular case which called
forth this important decision was local and
relatively insignificant. In true German fash
ion the vexed question Of q physicians sntus
and his business rights was carried to the high
est court as Il matter Of principle and consist
enC,v But the farreaching significance Of the
final ruling and of the reasons validating 1t Is
already causing much dissatisfaction among
German physicians. The court made the COM
nlimentarv argument that physicians. being
actuated> By Il desire to benefit their fellow men,
do not expect to be paid the full value of their
services Standing above a sordid commercial
level physicians would. in the courts opinion
lower their dignity and lose caste by marking
each of their diagnoses and treatments with
vulgar price tag.
From a less elevated point OF view. the as
slmptions and the logic Of the German tribunal
can be integbe only to men with curious pre-
conceptions about class and commerce. Granted
that physicians are actuated by desire to ben
eft their fellows, why should they not be al
lowed To assure themselves of a respectable lv
ing? Conceded that they do not expect TO get
full value" for their services-perhaps a risky
hvpothesis-would the physician be a base
creature who hoped for fair rewards? Just
what full value means in connection with
medical service the court apparently fails TO
state and in so failing IL seems TO have missed
the real problem. Values being determined by
two factors the need OF the buyer to secure
particular goods or services and the need of the
seller TO dispose Of them, the full value of
medical services can be determined intelligently
ONLY bv considering the number Of doctors
ready TO treat patient, the number Of patients
TO be treated the urgency of treatment and the
wealth Of the sufferers. If as q protection to
patients physicians should agree upon definite
scale of prices such scale could not be and
ought not to be rigid, exacting Of every patient
the same sum for the same treatment It's
nrices should be graded, far possible
according TO the difficulty and expense of treat
ment but not without regard TO the paying pow
ers Of natients Such scale would not prevent
the greatest specialist from accepting poor pa
tiants at nominal prices or paupers at no price
at all.
The High Court Of Germany appears to have
confused definite scale with a one-price scale,
ond 70 have been influenced by the singular be
Iiop that medical fee which is honorable when
evod bv one man becomes "undignifed' when
determined by an assemblage Of intelligent,
broad-minded men