The Detroit times., 1910-02-19
DOCTORS STIRRED.
OVER PRACTICE OF
SPLITTING FEES
"Divvy" Between Surgeon and Gen.
eral Practitioner Who Sends Him
the Business Denounced as
"Cloven- Footed Abuse"
worst and Most Dangerous Form of
Graft Declares Bishop Will
iams, Speaking For Laity.

Should the Skilled surgeon divide
his fee with tho general practitioner
In cases referred 20 him by the LAT
ter?
This question is made the suOjei
OF an interesting discussion in tee
February issue 81 the Detroit Medical
Journal, i'm which several OF Detroit
leading physicians and surgeons eA-
press their views on the subject
which has become 4 Yital Issue In the
profession. The discussion appears
L. have been inspired by DR.. William
f. Metcaifs presidential address be
fore the Detroit Academy OF Medicine
some time ago uu 'rhe business end
of medicine" ana his remarks al that
time on the question OF the divisloA
OF fees ARE ropriuted quite extern
sively.
rhe consensus of oplaion of the
doctors taking part in the discussion
H. that thn secret division OF fees De-
tween surgeon ans general pracii'
toner Is about thu greatest eyil tAS
profession has 10 contend with. III"
doctors agree taat the FAMILY phySi'
can who refers n, case, il present a.
the operation ard attends the patient
during convalescenCe Should be com
pensated for his services as well as
ihe specialist WAC invariably receives
biz fee This compensation how
ever. should come from the patient
IL is conIendei. ard il there Is any
splitting OF iecs u should be Only
with the patient knowledge.
The country ioc,or who feels tina;
he is entitled 10 compen alton Tor
bringing patient 90 tho city Tor an
operation finds champion IN III.
Angus Mclean. whu poiuts on thar
many doctors ~ tAe state have
ceased bringing patients 20 Detroit.
They Split IN Chicago.
They take them TO Chicago. %her2
they are usnaut able 10 secure Il
satisfactory adjustment OF the que~-
tion Of fees" he adds
Here Is how Or Mclean sizes ~
the situa ion
"A doctor from town some DIS
lance from Detroit. has patient
who. in the Doctors Judgment. would
he benefited hy surgery de makes
The diagnosis ana advises operation.
The patient is somewhat timid anc
wants his physician To ACCOMPANY
him 10 The city a. remain with nim
during the operation and unul ne
comes our OF the aresthetic.
The doctor leaves home al noon
say; he gets !n,o Detroit al night.
The operation > performed the mes.
day The doctor waits around uhtl
late in the Afternoon and does not gel
back 10 his Woyn oHtil late AT hisat
or perhaps noon Tie following DAY
He has lost practically two days. aud
his expenses such az hotel Bills ara
carfare. What consideration does
Re receive Really rothing. Iee
law allows him the price OF a WISH.
He can make no extra charge that
the courts VIII recognize Tor MS dlae.
nosis OF cancer o! gladstone disease
az the case may Dt, which every red-
sonable person must admit. is worm
more than the re Of an ordlha"y
visit
Il think It is perfectly legitimate
that the physician should be allowed
a stated fee for his time, say $50 T.
this is collected hy the surgeon II
should be so stated ~ tn" receipt
The question of division OF fees,
sc.called. is not . 4eNed pronlem 80
far as the city is concerned. The city
patient usually selects a surgeon for
himself. and the family physician, IS
rule. does not concern hlnseil al
the situation IL - the country dee
tor who lives al distances varying
from ten To two hundre,! miles frcm
the city who fees that he should be
recompensed for his loss of time. Ills
lain upon the patient is not rccos
liked BY the COURT. so what are !oc
to do?"
Or. Metealfs Strong Language.
DR.. Metcaf. in his address. referred
IN the division ca ices rs the most
cloyen.footed abuse that threatens
the integrity of tn medical practice
today
The people OF this country have
supposed they wsle rid OF the buylh
and selling OF human beings cohtln-
ued the doctor. but what Is II wheP
a man in general family practice.